After speaking to people in the know, I can officially confirm that promising New York grindcore act ASRA (Alleged Satanic Ritual Abuse) have broken up. According to the band, one of their number made the tough decision to focus on completing his law degree and holding down a full-time job and as a result, ASRA is no more.
ASRA have been generating quite a buzz in the underground, appearing in publications like Decibel and Metal Maniacs, headlining Filth City Fest (which featured ganj-obsessed death metallers Cannabis Corpse) and contributing three tracks to Relapse/Scott Hull's This Comp Kills Fascists. Their powerviolent, crusty take on old-school no-trends no-bullshit grind lives on in their recordings – including the positively ferociousThe Way of All Flesh full-length (released earlier this year by Black Box) – and in the memories of those of us who were lucky to catch one of their raging live performances playing with the likes of Coffins, Tombs, Phobia, Magrudergrind, The Endless Blockade and more.
R.I.P. ASRA.
