Survive Sunrise (Relapse) sees the release of ASG’s sixth album, their first since Blood Drive in 2013. Recorded, mixed and mastered by longtime producer Matt Hyde, their latest offering continues the North Carolina outfit’s signature sound; a heady mix of both psychedelic and stoner rock, with strong Black Sabbath, Kyuss and Mastodon elements throughout, complete with their trademark, and rather striking, album art courtesy of Malleus (Editor’s note: a.k.a. Ufomammut), whose previous work includes Foo Fighters, The Melvins and Queens of the Stone Age.

A continuation of the metallic melancholia of Blood Drive; the ensuing forty-six minutes is a mix of fast, slow, heavy and soft moments whose charms take a while to reveal themselves. The record gets off to a cracking start, with the first three tracks on the faster and heavier side. The title track is a flurry of ominous riffs and melodic lead guitar licks. ‘Execution Thirst’, the following track, is the heaviest moment here – a brief number with a venomous, metal bite. ‘Up From My Dreams’ shares this venom, with a Jason Shi’s angry vocals adding to the sense of rage. ‘Florida Sleep On’ closes proceedings in fine fashion, a compact rocker with a wonderful sense of speed.

The album has a natural ebb and flow; going from the pacey cut and thrust of ‘God Knows We’ to Black Sabbath–like numbers such as ‘Hawks on the Run’ and ‘The Heaven Moon’, with very relaxed pacing and a wall of thick, sludgy guitars. The energetic, instantaneous numbers such as the title track and ‘Weekend Money’ draw you in, with the slower moments taking a while to gel, they seem a bit drawn out at times. One song which successfully merges the both is ‘Lamb Song’, a quiet acoustic intro soon gives way to doom-ridden guitars and Scott Key’s thunderous drumming. All in, Survive Sunrise is a well-balanced record with heavy, fast and slower moments that rewards patience and repeated listens.

7.0/10

THOMAS THROWER.