Clearing the Path to Ascend

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Clearing the Path to Ascend

| type = Studio

| artist = YOB

| cover = NR090 YOB-ClearingThePathtoAscend.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2014|09|04}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Doom metal, sludge metal

| length = 62:30

| label = Neurot

| producer =

| prev_title = Atma

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Our Raw Heart

| next_year = 2018

}}

{{Music ratings

|MC=85/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/clearing-the-path-to-ascend/yob|title=Album Review|publisher=Metacritic.com|accessdate=2014-10-19}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/clearing-the-path-to-ascend-mw0002697024|title=Album Review 1|publisher=AllMusic|last=Jurek|first=Thom|date=2014-09-01|accessdate=2022-02-17}}

| rev2 = Exclaim!

| rev2Score = (8/10){{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Metal/yob-clearing_path_to_ascend|title=Album Review 2|publisher=Exclaim.ca|last=Walschots|first=Natalie|date=2014-08-29|accessdate=2014-10-19}}

| rev3 = MusicOMH

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/yob-clearing-path-ascend|title=Album Review 3|publisher=Musicomh.com|last=Shepherd|first=Sam|date=2014-09-01|accessdate=2014-10-19}}

| rev4 = Pitchfork

| rev4Score = (8.2/10){{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19617-yob-clearing-the-path-to-ascend/|title=Album Review 4|publisher=Pitchfork.com|last=Camp|first=Zoe|date=2014-09-04|accessdate=2014-10-19}}

}}

Clearing the Path to Ascend is the seventh studio album by American doom metal band YOB. It was released in September 2014 under Neurot Recordings. Rolling Stone named it the best metal album{{cite web |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-metal-albums-of-2014-20141211/yob-clearing-the-path-to-ascend-20141210/ |title=20 Best Metal Albums of 2014 |year=2014 |accessdate=12 December 2014}} and the 50th best album overall{{cite web|title=50 Best Albums of 2014|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2014-20141201|website=Rolling Stone|accessdate=8 February 2015}} of the year.