Former Sunnn0))), Burning Witch and Goatsnake member Stuart Dahlquist is the mastermind behind Asva. What You Don't Know Is Frontier is a tribute to his late brother Michael, and the album title comes from a poem he wrote. There are four tracks on the CD, each one clocking in at anywhere from 13 to 24 minutes.
The first two songs are instrumental doom/drone, with waves of instruments ebbing and flowing. They slowly build momentum before peaking and retreating once more. "A Game In Hell, Hard Work In Heaven" is slow and mournful, pulsating with sadness and grief. There are some female vocals that add a different twist.
The final track starts slowly with a lot of atmosphere and droning guitars before kicking in with bone jarring intensity and rumbling low end. It ends with several minutes of an organ, just as you'd hear at a funeral. It's an apt end to a very moving CD.
Asva and music of this genre isn't for everyone, because it's not traditionally structured and doesn't have big hooks or much singing. But for fans of doom/drone music, it would be difficult to find a CD with as much emotional impact as What You Don't Know Is Frontier.
(released August 19, 2008 on Southern Records)
