Asteroid - II

Asteroid
II
5/5
Fuzzorama Records
To sum up Asteroid in one word, you’d probably have to say fuzz. A Swedish trio of promising musicians, the more psychedelic edges of stoner rock seem to run through their veins and they apply it to record with surprising confidence.

Following on from 2008’s self titled and a split with fellow fuzzsters Blowback, early adopters will be pleased that II is more polished production wise, but loses none of the haze which makes their sound enchanting. By the second track ‘Disappear’, they’ll have won most of you over. The vocals are powerful and yet the backing to these feels ripped straight from an instrumental band. For the most part, a very relaxed pace is spread across the record and even the faster paced tracks, such as ‘Lady’ never really break past a trot. The last three songs, ‘Towers’, ‘Fire’ and ‘Time’ almost blend together into one which speaks volumes for an album where not one track feels out of place.

Packed full of hooks without screaming for your attention, II is an album which fights its way into your consciousness and makes you reach for it again and again. Laid back and trippy, this could be one of 2010’s best.