ASK
New Music

Raging punks ASK detail recent EP “Severed Self”, Michigan hardcore, and more

4 mins read

Michigan based metallized, grinding hardcore act ASK released their recent EP “Severed Self” back in March, and today, with the American nation on the verge of a presidential election and and a bunch of crazy stuff going on in the world today, their message stays relevant to the social context. The anti-racist, pro-consent, pro-queer quartet have teamed up with us to give you a wider perspective on their project, the new EP, as well as their local music scene in Michigan.

Grab the band’s debut EP on tape via Painters Tapes. No Time Records has the new offering covered and you can order your copy at this location.

“We’ve all played in bands for years and have known each other through the scene.” – comments the band. “We’ve been a band just shy of two years. It has turned out to be a good fit musically and personally.”

𝐴𝑆𝐾 π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘  π‘Ž πΆπ‘œπ‘›π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑒’𝑣𝑒 π‘’π‘£π‘œπ‘™π‘£π‘’π‘‘ 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑦 π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘Ž β„Žπ‘¦π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑠𝑑𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘π‘’π‘›π‘˜, β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™.

“We’re anti-racist, pro-gay, pro-consent. We aim to celebrate diversity in music and culture. We had a lot of fun stuff lined up during the spring and summer of 2020 which of course had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.”

Asked about their perspective on touring and live shows, they add: “We look forward to playing shows again when it’s safe and responsible to do so. Our main focus right now is practicing and writing an LP.”

The “Severed Self” EP

“We chose the name Severed Self for this EP because it fit well with the lyrical themes.” – explains the band.

π‘†π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘’π‘Žπ‘› π‘‘π‘¦π‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘β„Žπ‘–π‘Ž, π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑦 𝑖𝑛 π‘Žπ‘› π‘’π‘›π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘’π‘‘π‘¦, π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘œ-π‘’π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘œπ‘šπ‘–π‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘‘β„Ž, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘†π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘’π‘‘π‘¦ 𝑑𝑒𝑒 π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝐢𝑂𝑉𝐼𝐷 π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘šπ‘–π‘.

“On a more positive note it can mean severing yourself from harmful behavior, people, or situations which is an important part of personal growth. It was important to have social commentary in the lyrics as well. β€œAn artist must disturb the peace” as James Baldwin says. We wanted to show growth as a band musically and lyrically from what we did previously.

We also took a little more time in the recording process. We worked with JC Griffin at Lakebottom recording house in Toledo, OH USA. We love JC and his cats.”

Blastoid

This is about standing your ground and following your own path through this systematic racist society. The clip is from the audio book β€˜White Fragility’ by Robin DiAngelo and we felt it capped the song off nicely.

Smother

This song is about dealing with negative self worth and how it can be related to dealing with negative people in your life. Which then relates back to the lack of self worth.

Recall

This song is about dealing with any form of abuse and the anxiety that comes with.

Dwine

This one deals with society’s downfall, prominently for people of color, and a general lack of empathy toward them but being able to appreciate life and push through. The audio clip is by Henry Rollins who reminds us to think positively even when all seems lost.

Michigan hardcore scene

“Pre COVID-19 the whole southeast Michigan scene was good. We’re a major U.S. city so we get international and national bands that come through regularly. Two of our favorite venues are the Trumbullplex (an anarchist collective formed in 1993) and The Sanctuary (which started out as a basement venue and is now a full fledged club). We’re lucky to have these two spots. There’s a slew of other venues, bars, basements that host bands as well.

We’ll give a bump to the west side of Michigan too which has a pretty good scene going. Check these ig accounts, @sweatfestmi, @lifelosshc, @worstself.

Check out other Michigan based bands: Great Reversals, Phoolan Devi, Surfer James, Macho Detroit, Solemn Judgement, Pancho Villa’s Skull, Dead Hour Noise.

Get inspired: Spotify recommendations, by ASK:

Extra: donation links worth checking out:

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Karol KamiΕ„ski

DIY rock music enthusiast and web-zine publisher from Warsaw, Poland. Supporting DIY ethics, local artists and promoting hardcore punk, rock, post rock and alternative music of all kinds via IDIOTEQ online channels.
Contact via [email protected]

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