Saint Asonia Punches Out a Better Path To Sonic Destruction

Here on the 'ol blog circuit I do declare it's supergroup ID time. Saint Asonia consists of Three Days Grace lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Gontier. His band gifted us with "Pain" and "I Am Machine". Our ears maintain the sting. Guitarist Mike Mushok comes to this table from Staind, the band responsible for "Right Here Waiting" and "It's Been Awhile". The latter tune claims a place on my all time favorite rock song list. Behind the drums we've got Rich Beddoe of Finger Eleven. I could go on and on about how deeply I adore "Paralyzer". Similar bone jarring machismo leaps to the fore in "Better Path", Saint Asonia's hello pleased to meet you leap into the rock fray. One other person makes his presence supremely felt. That would be Corey Lowery from Eye Empire. There's not a acre of landscape that he doesn't own in this instance. "Better Path" benefits from Mr. Gontier's agonized voice. You know he's giving the naysayers the royal kiss off and means it down to the last syllable. Rich puts his body behind his select beats. He explodes as needed and subdues himself just enough when that's called for. Chords stay in one prime location which is not a liability as it so happens. The notes do inch up a little bit at the chorus but Adam's worn to the nub mental exhaustion exerts its will regularly. At its core lies a pervasive message. Adam doesn't like towing negative energy in his wake. He vows not to forget, to cut this person out of his life permanently. Essentially "Better Place" amounts to a gigantic kiss off set to a smoldering riff wall that you'd be a fool not to invest energy in. Mike ingratiates himself into Adam's vocal zone but what he adds to the gravitas can't be measured by a mere lyric sheet. Color Mike's instrument the sultan of snarl. The viciousness within matches Adam's commitment to bad air out good air in. Rich equally drives home fury tied to lethal sticks. I'm not sure "Better Place" qualifies as bombast rock. The overall fusion of players is too disciplined. Bombast tends to fly all over the place waiting to see if anyone's going to peel it off the ceiling. You'd be given a pass for dismissing "Better Place" as a diary rant turned up too loud and conveying too little new under the sun. Absolutely the working parts fit together nicely. That separates blah from ear grabbing. The chorus grates but in pleasing fashion. Everyone involved is committed to putting maximum focus into the project. The non chorus passages deliver slight variation in theme but not so much you forget Adam's a driven dude taking out the socially air reducing trash. I'd conclude that "Better Place" doesn't suffer from too many cooks spoiling the broth. In truth you can hear what makes each participant a giant presence in his own band. Adam inspires sympathy for his me against the world displeasure. Mike slow cooks bass in direct intensity consistency to his work in Staind. Rich pulverized his kit throughout "Paralyzer". A fraction of that spark lands in "Better Place". I do declare the fraction was all that was necessary. I plead ignorance in Cory Lowery's case. I'm not familiar with Eye Empire. The ears have it as to how large a contribution he makes to "Better Place" though. Prickly heats take aim from front to back. It's unclear how long Saint Asonia will be prowling the walk but "Better Place" hints at what a smartly assembled rock force can kick out when hearts and minds are in the right place.