Slip Into Something More Comfortable,
Asteria
Originally signed to Hawthorne Heights' JT Woodruff's label, Carbon Copy, the band ended up labeless after the imprint folded during their bitter legal wrangle with Victory. Broken English/East west stepped into the breach and Asteria's third full length album is finally available. And good news it is too, because this record is catchy, polished and exceedingly good. Granted, it's from a genre of music that is probably my favourite (see Cartel, Hit the Lights and other catchy pop-rock bands as proof), but it's done in such a slick and fun way you can see past the generic and done-to-death side of the music and just appreciate this for what it is - an album full of great songs.
After the rather odd-chanting opening of 'Drink Life To The Lees', the band launch into catchy melodic track after catchy melodic track. 'See You In Virginia' is a great song, as is 'The Taste, The Touch', a personal favourite of mine on this record. Terrence Kline's vocals are forceful throughout - a little Ace Enders-esque in their delivery - and, for me, it helps make this band stand out from the pack. 'A Lesson In Charades' and 'Hold Fast, Stay True' are fantastic too - in fact it's only the really bizarre secret track which lets this record down.
There are a few bands that have seemingly come from nowhere in recent years to build up decent fanbases and reputations. Cartel did it last year - there's no reason why Asteria can't do the same in 2007. With a clutch of fun, excellent tracks which will stick in your head for hours and hours after you've pressed stop, Asteria are a band you really need to check out before they're everywhere.
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