ASG

Hard-hitting Southern rockers ASG formed in 2001 with an appropriately propulsive moniker and ethos: "All Systems Go." Performing stoner metal with electrifying energy inspired by <a href="spotify:artist:4pejUc4iciQfgdX6OKulQn">Queens of the Stone Age</a>, the Wilmington, North Carolina band released a handful of efforts with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Volcom+Entertainment%22">Volcom Entertainment</a> and producer Matt Hyde, including Feelin' Good Is Good Enough (2005) and Win Us Over (2007) before joining <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Relapse+Records%22">Relapse Records</a> for 2013's Blood Drive and 2018's Survive Sunrise.

Founded by original quartet Jason Shi (vocals, guitar), Andy Ellis (bass), <a href="spotify:artist:048cJf1GYrVNXSO4t9a0ye">Scott Key</a> (drums), and Jonah Citty (guitar), ASG employs a muscular blend of punk, southern rock, and stoner metal that has drawn comparisons to artists like <a href="spotify:artist:4pejUc4iciQfgdX6OKulQn">Queens of the Stone Age</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4PxqJghOAEvatt0scJvili">Torche</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3HCpwNmFp2rvjkdjTs4uxs">Kyuss</a>. They self-released their eponymous debut/demo in 2002 before inking a deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Volcom+Entertainment%22">Volcom Entertainment</a> and issuing their official debut, 2003's Amplification of Self Gratification. The pummeling Feelin' Good Is Good Enough arrived in 2005, their first produced by Matt Hyde (<a href="spotify:artist:1IQ2e1buppatiN1bxUVkrk">Slayer</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4hvwEwrCmGj22uURGVET7Q">Monster Magnet</a>). ASG followed with Win Us Over in 2008, which featured <a href="spotify:artist:4D9H6CaKzDTaN1EbAHypYg">Dwarves</a>' vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:1i77kVQUoWc67cIyK3UO9A">Blag Dahlia</a> on "Palm Springs." A best-of collection and various split releases were issued over the following years, but there would be a long gap between albums. After signing with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Relapse+Records%22">Relapse Records</a> in late 2011, it took another two years for their fifth album to arrive.

Blood Drive, their first long-player for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Relapse%22">Relapse</a>, was released in 2013. With Hyde once again at the helm, the album featured "Day's Work" and "Scrappy's Trip." Their sixth effort, Survive Sunrise, was issued in 2018 after another extended gap. ~ James Christopher Monger & Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi