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| ASGThe Amplification of Self Gratification2003 Volcom 
 Review by: FortyMinutesWest See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
ASG @ mp3.com (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on August 5th 2003 Well this is something different. ASG mixes some diverse sounds together, from Queens of the Stone Age and The Foo Fighters to Metallica and In Flames. I find that they rely heavily on the American metal style over the course of this album, with bits of punk and rock thrown in for good measure. “The Amplification of Self Gratification” makes a good soundtrack for late night driving, that is, cruising around with the windows down and trying to feel like badass. As you’re driving, some guy with a mullet grins and flashes the devil horns. Some of this stuff is pretty cheesy, but in an endearing way instead of in an annoying way. These guys know how to play as well; they’ve got a huge sound for being a 3 piece band. I like this album, I don’t make practice of listening to this type of band very often but in a case like this I can make an exception. It’s far from perfect though. One major I gripe I have with this is that there is too much time spent building up to the verses, too many instrumental passages. Some bands can get away with this, ASG can’t. Not that their sound isn’t interesting, but they don’t hold my attention well enough without some vocals added to the mix. When they cut to the chase and actually work with a greater punk influence on their sound as in the song “One Less Crutch” the results are overwhelmingly positive. If the band were to concentrate on more songs of this style I see no reason why they wouldn’t have a large fan base in the future.
I’d recommend this to you if you want to see what a mixture of sing along metal and sing along punk would sound like. This album is by no means short of toe tapping moments, but a little more focus would be appreciated. ASG could very well be the band that makes people sit up and actually take Volcom seriously as a record label.
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dude, i heard this guys in a volcom skate video, and they were frak'n awsome! i found a new band that i can skate too! one of the greatest sounds i ever heard! where is the next album? ASG known in Italy!thank u amped2! ASG rock i first heard em on the volcom sk8 vid chicagof . my fav song is pillage and the plunders i luv the intro. you all are by far my favorite band you all are by far my favorite band Good album ! ASG is pretty damn good. I saw them perform at VOLCOM and I think they should keep doin what there doin. There stuff is great to surf to. Some of there stuff has like a classical/swedish death metal/punk/rock vibe to it. I just saw them last night (2-22-05) in Emerald Isle, NC and they kicked ass. The mosh was crazy in the little bar they were playing in. I can't wait to see them next time they come around This band is badass !!!! They rock asg is freakin bad ass man there from my town wil/nc ASG Kicks ass i surf and skate with jason and the boys all the time they rock ((( SNC ))) i saw them in Boulder Colorado, opening for Guttermouth... hell i enjoyed them more then Guttermouth. these guys are sick, let alone i got to go back stage and hang out after the show, and spark up with the lead singer. i saw ASG in Portland and they were sick- why do i get the feeling that you are giving them heat because they are on Volcom's music label. Critique the BAND not the label. saw these guys at Warped tour in new jersey- they're like iron maiden meets queens of the stone age and then some other shit..it's not my favorite type of music but i found myself watching the entire set..the shit is definately worthy. A great first album. Amazing sound for just three guys. uuh what's wrong with guitar intros?...i know that heavy metal has had it's day but isn't that slightly refreshing in such a pop "punk" saturated world? these guys at least bring it honestly...and why is a metal oriented band being critiqued on a punk site? fuck give these guys a break-they just wanna play some rock and roll and drink can beer and go fishing...i guess that's not hip enough for the disgruntled record store employess of the world whose bands didn't do shit..they are not a threat to your tight shirted indie post pre progressive icons..let these guys come into their own....good review good review...that's exactly what we think...and next time we'll have more than six grand to record with This album blew me away. My dad was lucky enough to catch them at warped tour and introduced me to them. Later on that day i was lucky enough to meet the bass player. He was a nice, down to earth guy. This is one of those cd's that you can wake you up and also put you to sleep. In a good way. no i'd rather jack off and listen to audio karate than listen to reggae. i'd rather smoke pot and listen to slowreader than reggae. they should change their name to MSG. This score is for how much this band sucks. I didn't say he only listened to reggae, i said he MAINLY listened to reggae. But, yeah, he smokes a hell of a lot of pot...i guess that's how. I wonder how you could like just reggae On a weird side note, a guy I work with was friends with the singer back in high school and even though he is mainly a reggage fan he loves this band... These guys are local here to the popular Wilmington, NC...It's good to seem them finally getting some recognition. Not the best band I've ever seen but god damn I love getting fucked up and seeing them play for a few bucks (or used to, at least). Who knows now that they have signed with Volcom... im just kidding. Jesus, calm down. That should be "If you want to see.." |
