The Asound - S/T EP ...

North Carolinian rock trio The Asound has a EP out on 'Tsugiri Records,' which is a label run by their bassist Jon Cox. I recently reviewed their split they did with Magma Rise but the three tracks on this EP sound a little different. Not as doomy as what is presented on the split and not as polished, not that they are that polished anyway but there is a distinct difference here. The first two tracks have already been heard before; 'Joan' and 'Snow White' were on a split they did with 'Flat Tires. The production on this EP is pretty rough and raw but still sounds powerful, especially cranked up loud. 'Joan' has a lot of low-end groove and a sludge meets commercial stoner riffing that sounds a little like Sleep jamming with Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. That might sound odd but there is something about the vocal and its delivery that sounds very much in that vein.

The second track 'Snow White' is decent but seriously way too short to have any lasting impact. Maybe I have spent too many years listening to epic doom tracks but anything under three minutes for me seems too short to be memorable. It is also strangely commercial but in the rawest possible sense but kind of forgettable. The pick of the three tracks has to go the last track on the EP titled 'Open Eyes.' It is the longest track and also the most diverse. Not only does the song got more twists and turns that the other two tracks but it also showcases the musicians at their most busy. The track has a nice building arrangement and a great live vibe. It is without a doubt to me, the best track on offer here blowing away in my mind at least, the other two tunes. So in conclusion The Asound still have a way to go in my opinion but all the right elements are in place for producing some kick-ass music in the future. Even though this is a patchy, rough recording and way too short, it is pretty decent for what it is..........7.5/10

The Asound @ MySpace
Tsuguri Records