There’s more to this North Carolina combo than the usual sound and fury. To Die as Kings, the Ascendicate’s 2008 debut album, contains real lyric intelligence and melodic flair, enhancing the group’s ferocity rather than weakening it. The Ascendicate conduct themselves like truehearted soldiers doing battle with relentless demonic forces. (The use of a sound clip from the 2005 film The Exorcism of Emily Rose to introduce “Burden” makes this theme explicit.) Eric Marlowe bellows out his vocals like war cries, keeping the tone of tracks like “We Didn’t Click,” “You and Me” and “Fighting Words” at a fever pitch. Guitarists Ryan Helm and Dustin Bryant maintain a steady volley of guitar fire, backed by Chris Wheat’s kinetic drum work. A degree of wit and a measure of honesty elevate “Pride of the Brutish” and “Fire That Kid” beyond typical hardcore fare. There’s even a credible stab at tuneful balladry with the surprisingly restrained “One Day Without You.”