ASAVA continues to carve out a distinct space within contemporary alt-metal, bringing together crushing heaviness, brooding tension, and cinematic storytelling. For listeners drawn to the theatrical edge of Motionless in White or the melodic weight of Dayseeker and Memphis May Fire, the Canton, Ohio quartet offers a similarly dynamic approach while building a world of its own through music and film.
Their expansive 16-track opus, “Mahjong,” pulses with an unrelenting energy you won't find anywhere else. The record acts as a sprawling sonic landscape, seamlessly weaving the hypnotic rhythms and rich storytelling of early singles like “Leigh” with striking new cuts.
What begins as an eerie, surreal soundscape inevitably detonates into a cathartic explosion of thrashing guitars and ethereal vocals in “Saveyourself.” Elsewhere, “Valhalla” pivots into industrial territory, embedding heavy electronic elements into the rhythm section to craft something primal and abyssal; it echoes the abrasive brilliance of Mick Gordon’s Doom and Doom Eternal soundtracks.
The album is just as effective in its quieter moments. “All This Time” delivers a softer, albeit sharp, edge, cutting through the chaos with piercing lyricism, while the gentle acoustic strums of “Panthera” wash over the listener like a distant, fading memory.
The album’s undeniable emotional anchor, however, is the focus track, “And Again.” Delving into the claustrophobia of one's own mind, the song wrestles with self-doubt and the exhausting weight of trying to break free from destructive patterns. This psychological battle is brilliantly captured in its accompanying music video.
Every time it deepens
Swimming in the deep end
Thinkin should I stay or go
Could this be the last time?
Every time's the last time
Every time I’m goin ghost
Continuing the band's penchant for striking visuals, the video finds the members of ASAVA washed ashore by the tide, performing amidst the crashing waves. It’s a beautifully surreal atmosphere that visually translates the song's thematic tension between emotional exhaustion and persistence, especially as the lyrics cry out.
Rising from the ashes of past burdens, “Mahjong” is framed as an act of catharsis, one designed to leave listeners confronting their own reflections.
“‘Mahjong’ set us free. It’s freed us from so much of our past and so much of ourselves,” says frontman Liam Brocious. “And before you know it’s over; it leaves you with yourself in the best way possible. I hope it can help those the way it’s helped us. From below the bottom, from ash, we built back up with a mission and project of Mantras & Mahjong.”
With this chapter finally complete, ASAVA is ready to take “Mahjong” beyond the studio and into a new live chapter, bringing the album’s weight, atmosphere, and cinematic world to audiences across the UK and U.S. With several dates already on the calendar, the band is set to carry that experience to the stage throughout the fall. Miami may not be on the current itinerary, but we’re hoping it’s only a matter of time before ASAVA makes its way down here.
Listen to “Mahjong” and connect with ASAVA on Instagram and Facebook.
