Ahhh, metalcore, what a tangled web you weave. What is it about you that kids cannot seem to resist? Is it the pounding double bass? Is it the definite influence of Swedish metal? Is it the growled, anguished vocals? Whatever be the culprit, you've sure got a strangle hold on a good portion of music in the metal and hardcore scenes. Those silly kids just can't seem to get enough. Breakdown there, shredding riffs here, consistent double bass there, it's all been done to death. And in death, it's continually done, and then afterwords, done some more.

So where do Buffalo's Asherah reside?

Above a lot of bands playing the same style, actually. While doing absolutely nothing new, these kids to manage to bring some enjoyable music to the table. If you find yourself often listening to Darkest Hour or Between The Buried And Me, than Asherah very well might be the band for you. The six-song EP kicks off with one of its stronger tracks, "Ice Picks And Hand Grenades." The song starts with a pretty decent riff backed by some solid drumming, and then kicks in the all-too-standard two-fronted vocal approach. The majority of lyrics are screamed, as every once in a while somebody will chime in a line or two in a deep growl. It's never simultaneous, so it's possible the lead singer does both, but I'm not entirely sure. The songs are all pretty standard fare in structure and in length. Most can be found hovering around three and a half minutes, with the five-minute "Sick Day" being the exception to the rule.

On this album's behalf, I'll say it never really relents in intensity. The album's third track, "Hands That Slay Together Stay Together," starts out with some speedy riffs and slows a bit afterwords, but is one of the better songs on this EP. Fans of breakdowns, there are plenty here for you. Breakdowns have never really been my thing, but I can appreciate when a band does it well. The production here is above average for a metalcore CD, and serves as one of the album's high points. Staying mediocre throughout, there is one area that Asherah falters:. lyrics.

I've seen and heard much worse, and I'll be the first to tell you it, but this is all so contrived, and far too cliché for my tastes. There's much talk of blood, suffering, breathing, pain, and knives. I hate to see bands take the same pitfalls that have been done to death, but Asherah can't keep themselves away it seems. "Last Chance To Dance," for example, states "I reside in the well alone / Throw me your pains, throw me your sorrows / Throw me your dreams, throw me away / I'm dreaming a strange delusion." Come on guys, life's not really so bad. I've never looked at Atreyu's lyrics, but if I did, this is the kind of stuff I would expect to find littered through every song. Lyrics don't have to be innovative, but I also don't want to mistake them with every other band, doing the same style, with similar riffs and breakdowns.

This album does show promise, and potential for growth, but it will not be realized in this incarnation, because Asherah has disbanded since this was released in 2002. This is definitely a release that a lot of people will find appealing, but for those of us looking for that something extra, I can definitely think of better places to start. This band hasn't renewed my faith in Buffalo, but hey, we always have the Bills.