Philly-based alt-rock band ASkySoBlack is making waves with the release of their long-awaited debut album, Touch Heaven, which is out today on all streaming platforms. From their debut EP in 2021, What Is Yet To Come?, to Autumn In The Water (2022), to this new album, ASkySoBlack has made a solid streak of releasing banger after banger–their music doesn't disappoint, and if you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet, I suggest you start listening ASAP.What makes ASkySoBlack's sound especially exciting to me is their unique ability to pull from multiple rock subgenres, blend them seamlessly, and on top of that, do those genres justice. Those of you who know me, know that I'm not one to turn away anything remotely grungey or shoegazey, which is what drew me to Touch Heaven initially. However upon giving the album multiple thorough, front-to-back listens, I can confidently say that ASkySoBlack's "genre" doesn't simply stop at alt-rock or shoegaze, but actually delves into so much more. Touch Heaven is punchy from the get-go. It jumps right into tracks one and two with no time to waste; and though not my favorite off the LP, they still created a solid foundation for the songs to come. Track 3 however, "Boy Like A Bruise," was an immediate standout to me. The early Deftones and Smashing Pumpkins influences are clear, but then they threw in modern metalcore breakdowns, with extra noise and angst, even some pop-punk elements as well–it was sonically sexy. Tracks 4 and 5, "You Sit Useless" and "Portrait In Private," were equally up there for me as well. Up until track 6, "Carousel House," the only thing I felt missing was some textured screaming to top it all off. And just when you think singer Jordan Shteif isn't going to deliver... bam. His screams reverberated through the track–an awesome, and perfectly placed introduction to screaming within the LP. This is then followed by track 7, "Did It All Wrong," which is only 90-seconds long, but is made up almost entirely of Shteif screaming. It was everything I wanted and more, and it was these two tracks that really solidified the brilliance of the album for me. The rest of Touch Heaven felt much lighter compared to the first half of the album, but the tracks remained strong. The album closer, "Sore For You," took everything I loved from the LP (minus the screaming) and combined it into one, short, sweet, and satisfying ending. Despite the plot twists and occasional misses–specifically the tracks "I Wish I Was Not" and "It's A Slow Crash," which didn't do much for me–Touch Heaven stands as one of my top listens of 2025 thus far. It deserves all the hype it gets, and has proven to be a solid addition to ASkySoBlack's discography. The band is touring the new album across the east coast over the coming months, you can check out all tour dates and purchase tickets here. Keep up with ASkySoBlack and their future releases here.