Asag – Asag
This is a dirty little Pitbull of an album from Swiss grimsters Asag. Although it is only 33 seconds long the intro to this self titled debut from 2007 is funny as fuck because it sounds like someone with constipation having trouble passing a stool in an Arabian toilet. We can all identify with that at some point on holidays abroad right?
Round 1 took me off guard as Asag came out flailing and landed a cold clammy uppercut which had me rebounding off the ropes, shaken and confused. A tinny little grim riff opens up accompanied only by the drums but once the bass drops in the sound of Asag is beefed up considerably. Its raw and distorted, and when the vocalist bellows the first lines of text out becomes severely nekro.
It was five minutes of survival until the bell and a few seconds of respite. But then round 2 did it again; luring me in with an opening move that sounded out of tune but wickedy disguising a haymaker of a riff which sent me to the canvas. Catchy and pulverising aren’t words often used in conjunction however in this instance they go together perfectly. With deadly swiftness you’re plunged into a blender of savageness for another 4 minutes.
Track four has a great beginning which places a sample of machine guns in action over the drums, making them sound like part of the percussion. That would be the ultimate live drum sound wouldn’t it? Having a rack full of MG42’s, AK47’s and mortars and firing them all together to make them sound like drums!
A good balance of cruel quick riffing, savage and dirty vocals, short and intense guitar leads and neck breaking slower sections is maintained throughout the CD. Which is something that adds high replayability too. For sure this kind of thing has been done many times over by a myriad of groups but few get it spot on and Asag have knocked the competition out with this album.
The album plays for only 28 minutes but is short, aggressive and really pissed off like the aforementioned Pitbull, recently neutered, persuing the vet for revenge. This is simple Black Metal enriched by its own malnourishment. On the whole a very enjoyable and well played selection of minimalistic raw and fast Black Metal and I’m interested to see how their next release will square up to this.
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