“Boy like a bruise, cutting strings on your balloons. Tell me what am I to do when you’re away?”
Grungegaze is a genre that can be easily lost in a sea of distortion and shoegaze flourishes. ASkySoBlack’s debut album Touch Heaven does its best to break through this mould, even if it doesn’t fully reach the heights it seems to be aiming for. With a production job from Timber Studios’ Adam Cichoki (Gatherers, Funeral Fires), the mix is undeniably stellar. It’s lush yet punchy, with drums in particular sitting perfectly, holding their weight without overpowering the rest of the sonic landscape. The standout here is the craftsmanship behind the sound, even if the album’s pacing and flow leave something to be desired.
The album begins with little fanfare, dropping listeners straight into the deep end without a proper build-up, which feels abrupt and a bit clunky. This sense of disjointedness follows through in the first few tracks, as they lack cohesion – each piece almost feeling like a standalone track rather than part of a larger narrative. In their own right, each track is fine, but in an album setting it’s hard to really feel that they work together.
That said, ASkySoBlack does manage to find some exciting moments along the way. Tracks like “Portrait In Private” inject some much-needed energy, with much more upbeat tempo acting as a breath of fresh air amidst the album’s otherwise more somber atmosphere. It’s in these faster, punchier moments that the band feels truly alive, offering a welcome contrast to the otherwise dreary mood of the record.
Where the album really hits its stride, however, is on “Carousel House,” which sees the band explore a much heavier soundscape than what came before. The explosive instrumental, combined with the occasional scream, signals a bold step forward, and the track becomes one of the album’s most thrilling moments. The heaviness is taken even further on “Did It All Wrong,” where the band dives deeper into an aggressive, riff-driven sound that feels like their true calling. It’s short, but oh-so-sweet, and it’s a shame there aren’t more moments like this, because it shows where they could really thrive.
Unfortunately, not every moment lands. “It’s A Slow Crash” feels like a strange interlude, awkward in a way that seems intentional, but still somewhat out of place. The track’s purpose isn’t immediately clear, and while some may appreciate the experimentation, it could easily be a skip for many casual listeners who are expecting something more cohesive.
Thankfully “Hold Me Holy” picks right back up, hearkening back to a familiar, fast paced style somewhat akin to Autumn In The Water’s “See You Scared”. This track feels like lightning in a bottle, and makes it abundantly clear why the band are so revered within their niche – the brilliance of their prior releases is not just a flash-in-the-pan, and the band shows that they are capable of great things.
“Every Heart Needs Some Mileage” contrasts with this starting out much slower and building speed throughout it’s duration. Sadly, this track doesn’t live up to what has come prior, and though it’s fine in it’s own right, it’s remarkably hard not to feel that it is somewhat lacklustre after what’s come before. The closer sadly continues this trend, and, whilst packed with potential, ends all too soon, leaving you wanting more. It’s a bit of a letdown after the interesting build-up, and you can’t help but feel that the band may have been onto something but didn’t fully flesh it out.
In a scene that’s becoming increasingly saturated, ASkySoBlack still manages to carve out a space for themselves with Touch Heaven. There’s a lot of potential here, and while the album doesn’t completely fulfill that promise, it offers enough standout moments to keep listeners intrigued. The band is clearly still finding their footing, but the seeds of something great are here. If they can continue to explore and refine these heavier, more dynamic elements, they could produce something truly exciting in the future.
6.5/10
Touch Heaven releases on the 31st January through New Morality Zine and can be pre-ordered here.