Ahhhhhh, nothin' like a solid split release! As a rule, I generally disapprove of split releases. There are exceptions (Acid King/Mystick Krewe, Goatsnake/Burning Witch, etc), but I usually feel like these splits are money-making schemes with very little attention paid to the actual music. You spend $10 on an EP you could've got for $5 had it not featured a side of some band you could give two fucks about. The ACRIMONY/CHURCH OF MISERY split is a great example. But I digress.
Let's start with the ASTEROID half: Get past their semi-generic name and you'll find a side of EXCELLENT rock and roll. This band isn't your usual one-trick stoner pony. There's a lot to dig here. I've found that I dig their side more with each listen. "Supernova" is classic fuzz, and sure to be a big hit among the G.O.M.E. faithful. It's followed by "Anagram", which you have to hear believe. It's definitely a love-or-hate track. It reminds me of both QOTSA and FAITH NO MORE. In fact, the FAITH NO MORE/QOTSA/FATSO JETSON influences might be what saves ASTEROID from being just another band. Well, that and excellent songs.
The BLOWBACK half: Despite my love of Swedish stoner rock and the fact they have one of rock's cooler band names, I'm not a hundred percent in love with (© Geico Caveman) BLOWBACK's half of this split. That's not to say it's bad, or even unenjoyable. ASTEROID is simply a hard act to follow. It's a good enough soundtrack for twisting one up while you think about starting the CD over, but it sounds sloppy to me, and we've heard it all before. BLOWBACK obviously didn't contribute their best tracks to this split CD. The majority of it is just derivative...and not in a bad way, just in a "blah" way. Those with more patience, or less discriminating tastes, might find it quite enjoyable. They start taking chances around "Cosmic Dust" or so, and "The Arquitect" is damn good. Unfortunately, the side closes with a pretentious acoustic piece that not only borrows its title from a terrible GENESIS tune, but drags on about three minutes too long.
ASTEROID
1. Supernova
2. Anagram
3. Hexagon
4. Sim-Sala-Bim
5. Walk Alone
6. The Big Trip Beyond
BLOWBACK
7. Holy Skies
8. Autumn Leaf
9. Fairy's Dance
10. Cosmic Dust
11. The Arquitect
12. Invisible Touch
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