Asta KaskHanden på Hjärtat
(CD, Vinyl, iTunes, Spotify)
2013
Review made from listen to CD and Spotify.
Before the
release of the first Asta Kask studio record in seven years they warned us,
some might be disappointed in the new direction this record will take. When
Asta Kask say they will move in a new direction it might be laughable to most
bands, because the new direction is done in millimeters not in kilometers. It´s
so far from the Clashs new sound on every record you can get. It is parts of fractions
of it. But the small changes feels like huge steps in the Asta Kask Universe. So
consistent they have been. It is all there like before, the over distorted
guitars, the fluid bass guitar swimming in the sound waves of the guitars, fast
drumming that seems like it all over you ears and the razorblade voices. But
something is different, a bit more melodic a bit more Trallpunk with its
influences from Swedish folkmusic.
First tune is ”Världens räddaste land” (The Worlds most scared country) a spokingly, up to date, song about US foreign policy that generates more fear in the USA than security. Right from the first bar, it is like they want to build up this catchy tune with a dramatic intro riff to be a tune to last. I can feel they want to make both an classic Asta Kask record as well something new. The last they confirmed in interviews close to the release. There are tempo changes that we heard in “AB Böna och Be” for instance. The song is maybe a bit less angry and aggressive than expected. The whole record is, in comparison with the record before “En för alla ingen för nån”. And that is almost my only negative criticism about this record. It could been a bit more desperate and a bit less beautiful. Because in the second tune “Låt dom inte komma in” the lads seems like they wanna show that they can sing in a beautiful manner, the tune isn´t living up to normal Asta standard. Not that it is bad in any way. But Asta standards to me, is world class. The third tune “Sista Brevet” seems like it have borrowed some from big arena skate punk. That isn´t an A+ in my Asta Kask reference book. Not a bad tune but…well you get it. The same goes for “En Bättre Man”….WTF, have their hanging out with Mimikry resulted in Asta trying to sing in that Swedish folk music Trall punk manner that don’t suit them at all? Song 5, “Folkets Armé” (People´s Army) is a rather silly tune about the Russian revolution and how it come to fail in an oppressing Communist dictatorship. If I wanted to be mean I would say they borrowed that tune from Sabbaton, but I am not a mean guy, am I? And fuck me if not that tune crawl under your skin after a while, and it will slowly possible make it all the way to the ones that I like.
Now on to the good stuff.
“Vredens Barrikad” (The Barricade of Wrath) is possible the Punk hit of 2013, WOW this is WHAT Asta Kask is about. About all the bitter and let down people that takes it out in street riots. One rock for every dream that disappeared. Wow, this is punk poetry at its best. It is beautiful and clever written. A tune that I can´t get enough of.
Then another history lesson tune, “Död åt er alla” (Death to you all), Think Robespierre and you will get the message. Not bad, it sticks after a few listenings.
After that, a tune that lyrically could be sequel, a part two, of last records “Än finns det hopp” (Still there is hope) but in this tune there is just a sad end. “Fredagsmys” deals with the subject of domestic violence. A rather sad and disturbing story, taken from any family where the man is beating the woman behind the closed doors. In this case witha lethal outcome. The song then ends with a catchy message to women to break away from men like that, which also makes me think of this song as a development of “Lasse Liten”. The cult classic tune of the bullied boy “Lasse” that in his desperation of being accepted dies in a car crash in front of them all. The oppressed that tries to get a piece of the cool. The rather childish, ironic but funny conclusion of “Lasse Liten” in the lalalala part is made much more mature in “Fredagsmys” but just as catchy.
En “Annan Väg” is a bit too Trallpunk to be a true Asta but it is good anyway.
“Jag Är En Idiot” is taking the album into the Asta Kask inferno of everything they are as band. It is like they climax here. Fast and furious, this is Asta Kask.
The closing “Tack För Allt” is good tune but way to much Trall-inspired to be at the end of this good second half of this record. At least according to my Universe.
All over this is a good record. Not as good as I hoped for, but I rank Asta Kask as one of the top bands in the world so bear that in mind. Still it is, so far, one of this year´s top records. And I am glad that Asta Kask sounds like Asta Kask and not followed The Clash way of totally change their ways.
Worth buying? Yes, One for your home, one for your car.
First tune is ”Världens räddaste land” (The Worlds most scared country) a spokingly, up to date, song about US foreign policy that generates more fear in the USA than security. Right from the first bar, it is like they want to build up this catchy tune with a dramatic intro riff to be a tune to last. I can feel they want to make both an classic Asta Kask record as well something new. The last they confirmed in interviews close to the release. There are tempo changes that we heard in “AB Böna och Be” for instance. The song is maybe a bit less angry and aggressive than expected. The whole record is, in comparison with the record before “En för alla ingen för nån”. And that is almost my only negative criticism about this record. It could been a bit more desperate and a bit less beautiful. Because in the second tune “Låt dom inte komma in” the lads seems like they wanna show that they can sing in a beautiful manner, the tune isn´t living up to normal Asta standard. Not that it is bad in any way. But Asta standards to me, is world class. The third tune “Sista Brevet” seems like it have borrowed some from big arena skate punk. That isn´t an A+ in my Asta Kask reference book. Not a bad tune but…well you get it. The same goes for “En Bättre Man”….WTF, have their hanging out with Mimikry resulted in Asta trying to sing in that Swedish folk music Trall punk manner that don’t suit them at all? Song 5, “Folkets Armé” (People´s Army) is a rather silly tune about the Russian revolution and how it come to fail in an oppressing Communist dictatorship. If I wanted to be mean I would say they borrowed that tune from Sabbaton, but I am not a mean guy, am I? And fuck me if not that tune crawl under your skin after a while, and it will slowly possible make it all the way to the ones that I like.
Now on to the good stuff.
“Vredens Barrikad” (The Barricade of Wrath) is possible the Punk hit of 2013, WOW this is WHAT Asta Kask is about. About all the bitter and let down people that takes it out in street riots. One rock for every dream that disappeared. Wow, this is punk poetry at its best. It is beautiful and clever written. A tune that I can´t get enough of.
Then another history lesson tune, “Död åt er alla” (Death to you all), Think Robespierre and you will get the message. Not bad, it sticks after a few listenings.
After that, a tune that lyrically could be sequel, a part two, of last records “Än finns det hopp” (Still there is hope) but in this tune there is just a sad end. “Fredagsmys” deals with the subject of domestic violence. A rather sad and disturbing story, taken from any family where the man is beating the woman behind the closed doors. In this case witha lethal outcome. The song then ends with a catchy message to women to break away from men like that, which also makes me think of this song as a development of “Lasse Liten”. The cult classic tune of the bullied boy “Lasse” that in his desperation of being accepted dies in a car crash in front of them all. The oppressed that tries to get a piece of the cool. The rather childish, ironic but funny conclusion of “Lasse Liten” in the lalalala part is made much more mature in “Fredagsmys” but just as catchy.
En “Annan Väg” is a bit too Trallpunk to be a true Asta but it is good anyway.
“Jag Är En Idiot” is taking the album into the Asta Kask inferno of everything they are as band. It is like they climax here. Fast and furious, this is Asta Kask.
The closing “Tack För Allt” is good tune but way to much Trall-inspired to be at the end of this good second half of this record. At least according to my Universe.
All over this is a good record. Not as good as I hoped for, but I rank Asta Kask as one of the top bands in the world so bear that in mind. Still it is, so far, one of this year´s top records. And I am glad that Asta Kask sounds like Asta Kask and not followed The Clash way of totally change their ways.
Worth buying? Yes, One for your home, one for your car.
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