Asbestos Worker (Josh Stever)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2020? (In order 1-5)
This year was a very grind heavy year for me. And coming in #1 is Pig Destroyer's - Octagonal Stairway, next up is Meth Leppard's - Woke, but it wasn't all grindcore because I'd be a fool not to mention the latest offing from Blacklisters - Fantastic Man, then another grind band that I discovered this year is Wake's - Devouring Ruin, and to finish off the list with noise rock and the new USA Nails - Character Stop.
2. What band did you discover in 2020 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
A little gem I discovered was Sleiveen Hostess and their self-titled release. It was actually released in 2015. I discovered them while going through the Kaos Kontrol label website looking for something new. I've always been a fan of the Finnish noise rock band Throat. But this year I've been listening to them almost obsessively.Their singer/guitarist Jukka Mattias is also the label head at Kaos Kontrol and I figured he'd have equally talented bands on his label. I wasn't wrong.
3. How will you remember 2020? (In terms of music)
So I'm actually working on a solo grindviolence project called endlessXconsumption. I was pissed off this year and I actually needed something a little more vitriolic than noise rock to express my dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. So this year will always be known as the year that pissed me off more than just regular pissed off music could handle.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2021?
I currently have about 9 or 10 songs for Asbestos Worker getting finished off by Adam Tucker at Signituretone Recording. Which will probably wind up being an EP and 1 or 2 split releases. I also have about 18 or 19 tracks I'm working on finishing up the recording on for endlessXconsumption. So I will have a release for that as well in 2021.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2021?
Honestly I've kind of been a hermit throughout the year so I don't really know what is coming in 2021 for new stuff. Other than some friends from Atlanta in the band Naw are supposed to put out a full-length that I'm looking forward to.
6. Trying to put a positive spin on things, what is your favorite development from the global pandemic this year? (Is there a new medium you enjoy, a specific song or collaboration, personal news, etc. that was a bright spot?)
I'm actually working on a long distance collaboration with a few other talented individuals. Which came about as a result of being cooped up because of the pandemic. With two solo projects it's nice to actually work on music with other people for a change.
