Asylum 213 Electronic Press Kit

Richmond, Virginia's experimental noise rock quartet that blends in elements of many genres including shoegaze, mathrock and various forms of metal.

Asylum 213 are a band founded on diversifying and not conforming to the limitations of genres or styles with expression, but rather blending ideas together and seeing what happens. A 4-piece outfit based out of Richmond, VA, the band has always been a bit of an outlier given their eclectic mix of mathcore, noise rock, shoegaze, sludge rock, pop, and other elements and styles blended into a high-energy live act that has raised eyebrows and dropped jaws for a little over 5 years now. 

Once described as an “alt-rock wonderland,” (The Auricular, 2018) Asylum 213 have taken the East Coast and surrounding regions by storm, garnering notoriety for their chaotic, high-energy, jaw-dropping, and unpredictable live performance presented at every stage or living room they are booked. The most recent release, ‘Malpracticioner’ was described as “a body of raw, noisy, and deeply introspective work, presenting a thematic meditation on the human capacity to endure and recover.” (AKT Music, 2024) 

Originating as a solo project from singer/guitarist Dylan Lawson in 2010, the project found fullness in 2019, and has been tirelessly performing, touring, writing, recording, and passionately expressing each member’s full spirit ever since. In what is the band’s fullest and truest form yet. The current line-up (Dylan Lawson - guitar/vocals, Dexy Collier - bass , Marvin Ward - keytar, and Benjamin Pilch - drums) come together to produce their unique audible onslaught. 

Asylum 213 (sometimes endearingly shortened to “213”) blends elements of sludge rock, shoegaze, alternative, math rock, pop, trip-hop, metal, and noise in a titanic wave of aural euphoria; Passionately packaged and delivered to all ears willing to listen. “Asylum 213 proves that they are here to shake us up, both musically and ideologically, consolidating themselves as one of the most intriguing and relevant bands of the year.” (ExpansionRadial.mx, 2024). 

The most recent release, a debut for the full band, Malpracticioner spans 10 tracks of both fun and perilous personal experiences told literally and metaphorically, with the underlying message that, as Dylan Lawson puts it, “no matter how dark things get, that small glimmer of light you have at the end of the day is always worth maintaining”. A meditation on the human tendency to cope with life in strange ways, both good and bad for the individual in question, the album generates a relatable perspective that regardless of how simultaneously pretty and ugly a healing process may be; It’s always worth coming out on the other side, with a better mind, open eyes, and the pursuit of recovery. 

FFO:  Kero Kero Bonito, Don Caballero, The Butthole Surfers, Anamanaguchi, Psyopus,  Death Grips, The Smashing Pumpkins, Candiria, Buckethead, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Mr. Bungle, Tub Ring, etc 

Press Links:

Lelahel Metal Interview

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

Youtube Music

One Sheet

Weak Sauce: Tangerine Nightmare Affiliate

Some Venues Played:

The Camel-Richmond, VA, Richmond Music Hall-Richmond, VA, The Winchester-Cleveland, OH, Velo Fellow-Greenville, SC, Spirit-Pittsburg, PA, Zanzabar-Louisville, KY, The Cave-Chapel Hill, NC, Monstercade-Winston-Salem, NC, Amy's Place-Buffalo, NY, Springwater-Nashville, TN, Lucky 13 Saloon-Brooklyn, NY, Cafe Mustache-Chicago, IL, DC 9-Washington, D.C. 

Previous Tours: