The world of stoner metal is getting more and more crowded. The rise in popularity of the more melodic riff mongers out there such as Red Fang, Torche, Big Business, Queens of the Stone Age and ASG has made it increasingly difficult for bands to stand out on the strength of heavy grooves and big choruses alone. ASG’s newest album Blood Drive stands firmly within the genre and while it doesn’t contain many surprises it is a solid release that should please fans of accessible and melodic riff rock.
By far ASG’s greatest strength is the outstanding vocals of singer Jason Shi. His vocals float above the sludgy guitars in an almost Perry Farrell fashion. Songs such as the title track ‘Blood Drive’ and the spacious ‘Earthwalk’ wouldn’t be nearly as powerful without such excellent vocal lines. ‘Eartwalk’ in particular is an outstanding demonstration of ASG’s potential to break out of genre restrictions. As they push into prettier and more open territory they get better and better.
The best songs on Blood Drive are the ones that show off the dynamic range of ASG. They can certainly thunder along with riff after riff but they really shine when they give themselves some air and room to explode. ‘Children’s Music’ shows of this range with it’s delicate finger picked interludes sandwhiched between a huge chorus and an incendiary guitar solo. The mostly upbeat and catchy ‘Stargazin’ is a standout that brings a bit of post punk energy into the mix. The album closer ‘Good Enough to Eat’ invokes the best of the mid-90’s rockers, wrapping the whole thing up with a somber and mildly psychedelic exhale.
ASG have a really good thing going on and they deliver this album with the confidence of a band comfortable with their own abilities. The production is slick and clean and sometimes that pulls a little of the inherent energy out of the impressive riffing. They blend catchiness with technicality with an ease that makes the whole album feel comfortable and coherent. ASG may not be stepping outside of their genre too much but they do stand out as one of the better bands within it.
