Weedeater was born the mid-’90s, in Wilmington, NC, originally taking shape as a side project of vocalist/bassist “Dixie” Dave Collins, who was otherwise engaged with sludge metal cult favorites Buzzov*en at the time. However, upon that band’s official demise in 1998, Collins was free to concentrate his efforts on Weedeater, which released two sludgecore albums to kick off the new millennium: 2001’s And Justice for Y’All and 2002’s Sixteen Tons, both produced by stoner specialist Billy Anderson. Collins later decided to tour briefly as bass player for Bongzilla and also found time to lend his four strings to Wilmington neighbors, Sourvein, but continued to work with Weedeater guitarist Shep and drummer Keko, touring relentlessly over the years, with the likes of C.O.C. and Alabama Thunderpussy. Busy as he was, Collins and co. finally got around to recording their third long-player, God Luck and Good Speed, which was release through Southern Lord in 2007. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi

Formed in the North Carolina coastline community of Wrightsville Beach in 2001, the riff-fueled, distortion-driven rock of ASG that can be found on their latest effort has actually been at the band’s core since its inception.
Initially forming as a three-piece instrumental project, due to the lack of a dedicated vocalist, ASG were intensely focusing on devising tight, driving guitar riffs, locking guitarist Jason Shi in with the rhythm section of bassist Andy Ellis and drummer Scott Key.
But as time passed and no vocalist was found, Shi was eventually forced to step up to the mic.
With Shi becoming more comfortable as a frontman, the group found themselves connecting with Volcom Entertainment, who signed the band and put them in the studio in 2003, to record their debut album, …The Amplification of Self Gratification.
In 2005 ASG found themselves in a proper studio with proper producers, Matt Hyde and Phil Caivano, recording their sophomore album, Feeling Good Is Good Enough, an album that summoned all the band’s potential and spawned a thunderous hard rock creation that equaled what the band had been working towards for the past 3 years.
Shortly after completing Feeling Good Is Good Enough, second guitarist, Jonah Citty, was added to help recreate the album’s sounds live, which was none too soon as the band quickly found themselves on the road with the likes of Motorhead,Fu Manchu,Saviours,The Sword, Torche, Dwarves, and CKY.
In June 2007 ASG returned to Los Angeles to record their fourth album, entitled Win Us Over, with Matt Hyde again.
Win Us Over, is a vivid, psychedelic, and panoramic thrust that is just as much for the ears as it is for the aura; an experience in a colorful and dense cloth of abrasiveness.
Big beefy guitar riffs and melodic foreboding are soaked in Southern roadhouse whiskey, that just might be laced with psilocybin, and are hazed out through a kaleidoscopic squall that packs a walloping sonic punch.
While the ingredients of stoner rock, psychedelic metal, and angst-ridden punk rock are apparent, ASG doesn’t fit under any particular category. Be you a fan of plain ol’ rock and roll and don sleeveless flannels while sucking down 22 ouncers and gettin’ rowdy – or enjoy waxin’ deep on the bong, Win Us Over lives up to it’s namesake and ensures that come January 22nd 2008, ASG won’t be knocking on any doors; they’ll be knocking them down.
Win Us Over is available now digitally and is set for physical release (CD &am; 2XLP) on January 22, 2008

Rips’n’riffs.