Looks can be deceiving, which is certainly the case for Asthma Castle. The quintet count among their ranks drummer Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Misery Index, Scour) and Justin Ethem (touring guitarist for Integrity), but their sound is unlike any of those bands. Instead, Asthma Castle deal in riff-heavy, sludgy stoner metal. It’s all very playful on new album Mount Crushmore, with song titles like “The Book of Duderonomy,” “Brazilian Catbox Incident” and the song we’re premiering today, “The Incline of Western Civilization.”
The riffy grooves of “The Incline of Western Civilization” recall Sleep and their ilk, heavy yet melodic, with a combination of sung vocals and belted-out roars. Despite a ten-year period of silence between this album and their 2009 debut EP, Jesus, Mary and Broseph, Asthma Castle are in top form and ready to riff.
“When life gives you lemons, throw them in the trash then kick back and listen to our new song, ‘The Incline of Western Civilization,'” say Asthma Castle of the track. “Yes, it’s about humanity being repurposed as a food source for aliens. We hope you have as much fun listening to it as we had making it. Cheers!”
Hear the decline in real time below. Mount Crushmore is out digitally and physically on March 15 through Hellmistress.
