I’m not sure how, but I’ve somehow managed avoiding hearing, or for that matter, hearing of ASG, a North Carolina four piece that has been going since 2001. My surprise is based to a good extent on their CV which includes tours with Motorhead, Weedeater, Helmet, High on Fire, and Orange Goblin, all bands I’ve paid good money to see over the years. Okay, it seems they supported on US legs of tours, but normally such bands come to my attention via some form of metal osmosis. So, despite a decent history and back catalogue, I was coming to the band with a fresh perspective.
The biography sent with the music, along with the psychedelic cover art of ‘Blood Drive’, did make me think I was being prepared for a dose of stoner rock, and the opening guitar distortion of ‘Avalanche’ did little to dissuade me of that belief, an impression fortified by the trippy lyrics and laid back riffing; I’ve no doubt if there is a video for this mellow number there is a more then good chance of oil projector lamps featuring heavily. Title track ‘Blood Drive’ has a slightly heavier yet prog vibe; think Mastodon with less harsh vocals, and you would be in the right area, there being a complex interplay between the two guitars and the rhythm section, the harmonised vocals further layering the track.
‘Day’s Work’ has a slower, more doom laden riff, but with the stomping pace being woven through with trippy guitar notes that seem to soar from speaker to speaker like sonic shooting stars. If this is indeed all in a day’s work, these guys are audio craftsmen with not a note out of place. ‘Castlestorm’ kicks in next like a screamed wake up call, with ‘Scrappy’s Trip’ keeping up the pace. Some Southern Rock sensibilities creep in with ‘Blues for Bama’, mixed with vocals delivered with a Nick Cave melancholia whilst ‘Earthwalk’ follows with a sound redolent of herbal relaxation, not that we in Ave Noctum towers would know anything about that sort of stuff, except what we’ve read elsewhere of course!
Far less in your face then the last Relapse album I reviewed, the crushingly heavy Howl, with ‘Blood Drive’ ASG nevertheless have more then enough punch to stand out on the label, whilst at the same time weaving gentle interludes throughout the album. Having seen their tour history, I can see they would have been a valuable addition to any of those line ups, and I know that given the chance, I will be catching them live.
(8/10 Spenny)
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