ASG

Survive Sunrise RELAPSE North Carolina riff-wielders raise the sunnier side of stoner rock

Returning after five years, North Carolina’s ASG deliver their sunkissed sixth album just in time for those few months in which the UK’s perma-grey haze deigns to dissipate. A more upbeat affair than 2013’s Blood Drive, Survive Sunrise is a riff monster, reminiscent of latter-day Mastodon in its combination of anthemic vocals and righteous guitars. Execution Thirst ’s driving rambunction could’ve been lifted from Kyuss’s Blues For The Red Sun. Vocalist Jason Shi’s soaring clean melodies are a staple part of the band’s key weapon – a scintillating contrast between his major-key hooks and massive, cascading riffs creat a sonic wave you’d happily surf ad infinitum. ASG do nothing to progress the tenets of stoner rock, but they execute them with aplomb, and in so doing gift us a record to brighten our summer daze. FOR FANS OF: THE SWORD, KYUSS, FU MANCHU

TOM O’BOYLE