Asiago are an alternative/indie rock band from Trondheim, Norway. Currently, Asiago is working on a set of three EPs to be released in order, which will ultimately become a full-length album. Reviews and fan favorites will determine which songs of these three EPs are good enough to be on the full-length.
The first of these EPs, “Going Somewhere?” has been entirely produced by the Asiago members. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Audun Røstad’s (guitarist) own studio, Ambolt Audio, the band was determined to take advantage of a non-stressful studio environment and really take their time to get the result they wanted.
I know I like an album when I can listen to most of the songs without having the impulse to skip to the next song. This album reflects a 21st-century band with great talent. This is, without a doubt, going to be one of the classic modern rock indie Ep’s of the year 2012.
Asiago somehow are able to successfully mesh stadium-rock grandiosity with sweet synth pads, biting guitar riffs, fast-paced and catchy rock melodies to create one hell of a record.
Asiago bring something new to the table. They sound like a band left behind during the new wave 80’s era and just resurfacing now, but they are surfacing with their own personal mix of keyboards, guitars and harmonies.
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“Going Somewhere?,” displays a fully fledged spectrum of sounds equal to modern bands like The Sounds and The Killers.
The combination of instrumentation Asiago use, will get inside your blood, into your brain and into your soul. I could tell you what the album’s highlight songs are but the truth is, the entire 5-track Ep is one big highlight.
My personal favorite however, is “Exposed,” as I am a completely dependent on ethereal sounding rock ballads. Along, of course, with “Wake-Up On Fire” and it’s soaring vocal choruses.
In the times of rap, hiphop and wannabe pop stars, you’ll be glad you stumbled upon this band. First of all, each song is potentially a hit single, having a unique hypnotizing sound, and beautiful lyrics. You will also be in awe when you hear the voice of Kristian Skauge singing. Memories of Ultravox’s Midge Ure, will be swirling inside your head constantly.
Asiago have a highly developed sound, and every song screams with it. The hauntingly good synths with some seriously intoxicating bass lines that you just can’t hold back. Plus polished, classy, rock guitar and drums that pound the beat like a sledgehammer. Every sound and instrument the band use seems to become luminescent. Add this to the energetic and inspiring vocals, and what you have is heart clenching, blissful, delirium inducing melodic rock.
The Ep, “Going Somewhere?” never lets up; it consistently delivers exhilarating yet distinctive tracks, from a band that will be going places real soon.
Norwegian alternative rock band – ASIAGO
Band members/instruments:
Haakon Brox – bass
Erlend Naalsund – guitar
John-Ivar Rotnes – drums
Audun Røstad – guitar
Kristian Skauge – vocals
Nikolai Sødahl – keys
Websites:
Homepage: www.asiago.no
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asiagomusic
***A word about their new music video***
A single, ‘Wake Up in a Fire’, was released a few months before the EP. The band decided to shoot a music video for this song, and had an idea how they could make it look good without putting too much planning, resources and time into it.
The result was a shoot of the song where the singer, Kristian, walks towards a camera while the song is playing at 1/5 speed. This also meant that Kristian had to lip sync and walk in 1/5 speed as well while everything and everyone else in the video acted in normal speed, making it look really odd when the music and video was sped up five times.
The extras in the video dressed and undressed Kristian in normal time as he walked and sang at slow speed. The result was that it looked like they dressed and undressed him really fast while he did some awkward moves. A dog also came into the picture at one point, trying to drag Kristian with him out of the frame.
The shot was done in one take, all over 20 minutes, and in cold Norwegian weather (about -20 C degrees).
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