Back in the US after four years, MASS METAL powerhouse ASTERISM delivers a free world-class performance in its debut appearance in New York City. Fans lined up outside S.O.B.’s in lower Manhattan on a blazing July afternoon. Some prided themselves as longtime followers, others tagged along with their friends or became intrigued by the last-minute news of a free rock concert.

Inside the nightclub that typically books Brazilian, Latin and Hip Hop acts, ASTERISM fans seemed right at home with the well-stocked bar and the various standing and sitting vantage points. Beyond the colorful and friendly ambiance, the gathering had little idea they’d spill into the steamy New York night just hours later, everyone converted into a fan.

ASTERISM pulsates with energy right out of the gate.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

ASTERISM’s HAL-CA (guitar and vocals), MIYU (bass and backing vocals), and MIO (drums and backing vocals) saunter onto the stage to a raucous reception. Smiles glow across their faces. Stylish, confident, and donning fresh threads, they present themselves as the sophisticated, veteran rockers they’ve become. HAL-CA rocks her multicolored jumpsuit and violet sneakers. MIYU whips around his dreadlocks, contrasting MIO’s pink Dutch boy ‘do.

HAL-CA displays her passion.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

The show opens with two tracks from the 2021 album GUERNICA+a. STARS, a soaring, inspirational piece features HAL-CA’s flawless tapping and her tight duel with MIYU. As the crowd’s bodies and hearts start to pump, the heavier, aptly named Gunfire paves its way.

ASTERISM keeps the momentum going with a classic from its catalog and the oldest tune of the evening, Rising Moon. With its hypnotic beats and trippy riffs, it serves as a palate cleanser for Kaikai Kitan and unravel, two tracks off the 2022 anime cover album Animetic. The artsy takes then continue onto paying tribute to two Western giants, with Before I Forget by Slipknot and Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne.

MIYU provides perfect backup vocals.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

The latter half of the show enthralls with a showcase of ASTERISM’s jaw-dropping range and evolution. LIVE HOUSE, spotlighting vocals from HAL-CA, calls back to the band’s small club roots. Despite the humble origins story, the composition and performance feels appropriate in an arena like Nippon Budokan. The relentless banger BLAZE from the first album IGNITION and HAL-CA’s passionate belting in Fiction from the recent EP ASIDE easily make up the most memorable section of the concert.

HAL-CA takes on the role of vocalist and belts into the mic.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

The set ends with two more hits from IGNITION: Light in the Darkness and DAWN. The former rips with Van Halen-tier shredding by HAL-CA and includes a mesmerizing bass solo by MIYU. MIO delights with prodigious, machine gun drumming and a fireworks outro that nearly shatters his cymbals. DAWN, a heavy, haunting rock rhapsody, engages with MIO’s precise military march and then morphs into a head-banging rock epic, complete with glorious, soaring solos from MIYU and HAL-CA.

MIO delivers complex rhythms to complement bandmates’ soaring riffs.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

ASTERISM satisfied through and through. HAL-CA amazed with virtuosic and almost impossibly fluid guitar work (fans nodded in agreement regarding the new dimension her vocals added to the music). MIYU slapped and thumped out complex bass lines and seamlessly switched to rhythm guitarist duty on his imposing seven-string bass. MIO bolstered every song both impeccably and passionately.

MIYU slaps his seven-string bass.Jonathan Lane (JROCK NEWS)

Despite playing in Santa Ana, California just 48 hours earlier and arriving in New York in the wee hours of concert day, ASTERISM delivered a solid 12-song set spanning the past five out of its nine years. The band members had energy and charisma in reserve after the show, as they chatted, fist-bumped, autographed, and posed for photos with dozens of fans, promising to come back again soon.

1. STARS
2. Gunfire
3. Rising Moon
4. 廻廻奇譚 (Kaikai Kitan)
5. unravel
6. Before I Forget
7. Crazy Train
8. LIVE HOUSE
9. BLAZE
10. Fiction
11. Light In The Darkness
12. DAWN
    

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