INTERVIEW - ASBESTOS WORKER: "A dash of noise rock, a pinch of thrash, a teaspoon of grindcore slathered in punk rock."

 

Asbestos Worker is a noise rock trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded by Josh Stever (guitars/vocals) and is joined by Wade Walsh on bass and vocals and Jason Peterson on drums. They debuted their noisy concoction of sound in 2019, fuelled by the challenges of life. They have released two albums and one EP as well as numerous compilation albums, including “Rhino body lover: a tribute to Shallow North Dakota”, where they covered the song “Skid Incinerator” and “I'm the boss/You're the boss” with Conan Neutron. They are back to make a ruckus with their new album, "The Seperation" which was recently released on September 30th 2022, via Learning Curve Records. We caught up with the founder of the band, Josh to find out more about Asbestos Worker and their new release, which was recorded in just six days.

Firstly, let’s go back to the beginning. What were your earliest memories of music and the moment you decided you wanted to be a musician?

The first time I picked up a guitar was when I was five.


Can you tell us about how you came to form a band?

I started off as a one-man project. But when I joined with Learning Curve Records, I was asked to play a festival for the label. So I got some guys to join me on stage, and we had so much fun they joined permanently.



For those of aren’t aware. How would you best describe your music?

A dash of noise rock, a pinch of thrash, a teaspoon of grindcore slathered in punk rock.



What are your main fluences both musically and creatively?

We all are huge Sabbath fans! Which, along with Slayer, is the glue that holds our creativity together. We do have varied interests as well. Which I think is important.



What are you currently working on now?

We’re just about to go live with LP two and already working on our next. Along with a split with Atlanta’s Naw.



What was the writing and recording process like for the new album “The Seperation” and how did you arrive at that title?

Around the time I made it my wife and I separated, which was a very dark period of my life. But one I survived a grew stronger from. Which is the reason for the album title "The Seperation" (Learning Curve Records) After a 2-month period of depression and not playing any music. I wrote and recorded 13 songs in about a week and a half. 2 ended up on my first LP Dead End Town (No List Records).

What if any, are the main lyrical themes explored on the new album?

Anger, anguish, self-loathing, and the hope of redemption.





What was the hardest part of writing the new material?

The experience in and of itself.



How do you think the new material compares to your previous work? 

This one has a more serious and darker vibe than the last.

What can fans expect from your live shows?

Tinnitus if they don’t have earplugs! Sweat and some asshole yelling about some shit on stage!

What have been some of the best moments for you being in the band so far, and why?

I seriously love every minute of it, and each one is better than the last!

Outside of music, what else do you enjoy in your downtime?

A couple of us have kids, two of us is very active in live sound engineering, and the other is involved and is looking to get into amp design.


What else have you got planned for the rest of the year, and what else would you like to achieve?

Shows, shows, and more shows!



Listen to 'This Is Hell' taken from "The Seperation" below:
 

Connect with Asbestos Worker:

https://www.facebook.com/homeofhaterock

@asbestosworker


Listen to 'The Seperation':
https://asbestosworker23.bandcamp.com/