Amplification of Self Gratification, more commonly known as ASG, makes it difficult to classify their music. If I were to venture a guess, I would call it alternative metal, but even that classification doesn't do their music justice, as elements of groove, stoner, and southern metal are undeniably present, with a slight touch of punk here and there. It's this diversity, however, that makes the band's fourth studio effort, Win Us Over, so appealing.
The album truly delivers by creating a hybrid style from a litany of musical styles and techniques. Galloping rhythms and syncopation abound, found in tracks like "Palm Springs," "Right Death Before," and the appropriately titled "Gallop Song." And while guitarists Jason Shi and Jonah Citty bring heavy riffs and breakdowns (see "Glow" and "Low End Insight") that drive many of the tracks and give them a solid metal feel, the band doesn't hesitate to sharply juxtapose that with slow, sometimes clean guitars in mellow songs like "Coffee Depression Sunshine" and "A Number to Murder Two." Indeed, the haunting yet fiercely addicting acoustic guitar on "A Number to Murder Two" caters to those who aren't even into the metal scene. It's a particularly effective strategy when the album is brought back a notch like this: It gives the listener a break, and the contrast between the slower, quieter tracks and the heavier ones enhances the intensity of the latter. The first time I was thrown into the super-heavy "Gallop Song," which follows "A Number to Murder Two," I couldn't help but just bang my head.
The album wouldn't be as impressive, however, without the vocal work of Shi. His somewhat mystical and oddly soothing vocals shine throughout the album, fleshing out the melodic choruses of tracks like "Win Us Over" and "Ballad of Richard K." Even his bold screams are admirable, as they bring out the power of the particularly heavy tracks. For those of you who detest screamed vocals, don't fret - they are used sparingly and appropriately, with Shi belting out fierce roars at only the most intense moments of the song.
No matter what your music of choice is, give this album a listen; Win Us Over's diversity and flawless blending of music styles are the very things that make it capable of winning anybody over. A-
