Right Where You Are Sitting Now » ASVA

CD REVIEW: ASVA – What you Don't Know is Frontier – Southern Records

Ken Eakins — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:25:47 +0000

ASVA are probably my favourite of the ‘Drone/Doom’ (whatever) bands out there, SUNN O)) coming a very close second, so I was pretty excited to get my hands on this release. Formed a few years ago by Stuart Dahlquist (Burning Witch, Goatsnake…and I think he was a part of SUNN O)) at one point as well?), and featuring such names as Trey Spruance (Secret Chiefs 3, Mr Bungle) and the oddly named B.R.A.D. (Burning Witch), this is quite the ‘super-group’.

In their debut album, Futurists Against the Ocean, ASVA took the slow cue from bands like Earth and then added their own, very unique flavour. In this record that blueprint was dusted off and added to, giving a much more individual feel to each track. At points far more sinister and claustrophobic than it’s predecessor, at others faster and more urgent. Spruance’s influence on this record feels a lot greater as well, the varied instrumentation, and what sounds like alternate tunings at some points.

The standout track on this record is the incredible ‘A Trap for Judges’, which lurches slowly like a grim leviathan nearing some awful, unearthly climax (and can be downloaded from the Southern site here). If you’re interested in testing the ‘Drone’ waters then this is the perfect introduction, both nightmare inducing and oddly positive at the same time, love it!

Ken Eakins

5/5

http://www.myspace.com/asvaband

http://www.southern.net/southern/band/ASVA0/28148.php

EPISODE 03 – Interview with Trey Spruance pt 2

Ken Eakins — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:04:11 +0000

We return with the second part of our interview with Trey Spruance of the Secret Chiefs 3 and ASVA. This week we discuss running Mimicry Records, Mysticism, Internet Piracy and Weird Little Boy. Massive thanks again to Trey for doing the interview!

Background songs taken from Book M and Book of Horizons.

Included songs – Secret Chiefs – Hypostasis of the Archons – Book of Horizons (Mimicry Records), Secret Chiefs 3 – Emir of the Bees – First Grand Constitution and Bylaws (Mimicry Records)

Episode 2 Tomorrow! + Rock-A-Rolla beats us to it!

Ken Eakins — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:47:41 +0000

We lucked out!One of my all-time favourite musicians, Trey Spruance, gave us a sizeable amount of his time yesterday to chat to us for the podcast, its such a cool interview that we decided to split it into two sections , the first part being released tomorrow, then the next part sometime in the next few days!Trey is also the cover star of this months Rock-a-Rolla Magazine, featuring a full interview as well as an article on ASVA a band that he plays in. Go check the mag out here they are a cool indie mag, one of a dying breed, so show your support by purchasing an issue today! Oh! an remember to subscribe to us on your podcatcher of choice, and sign up to the site!