The Ohio heavy band released its 16-track debut for the label on August 28 and will carry the record to Riot Fest and additional fall dates.
Ohio-based heavy band ASAVA has entered a new phase with the release of Mahjong, its first album issued through MDDN and Atlantic Records.
Released August 28, 2026, the 16-track record brings together the band’s mix of alternative metal, metalcore, progressive rock and post-hardcore while placing a strong emphasis on cinematic presentation. The group also shared a video for “And Again,” one of the closing tracks on the album.
For vocalist Liam Brocious, Mahjong represents more than a collection of songs. He described the record as the conclusion of a longer period of personal and creative rebuilding for the band.
“Mahjong set us free,” Brocious said. “It has freed us from so much of our past and so much of ourselves. It’s the kind of record that we’ve aspired to make our whole lives.”
He added that the album was designed to move through different sections in a way that resembles scenes in a film, while showcasing the range ASAVA wanted to capture on the record.
That film-like approach extends into the band’s visual work. Videos for “Leigh,” “Saveyourself,” “Valhalla” and now “And Again” draw from mystery, psychological horror and suspense, creating a recurring visual identity around the music rather than treating each video as a separate concept.
The approach fits a record built around contrast. Across Mahjong, ASAVA moves between heavier passages, atmospheric sections and more expansive arrangements instead of relying on a single metalcore formula. The album’s length also gives the band room to develop that range across songs such as “The Centre,” “The White Rabbit,” “Comatose,” “Panthera” and “The End.”
Brocious framed the release as the completion of a broader creative journey involving the projects Mantras and Mahjong.
“From below the bottom, from ash, we built back up with a mission and project of ‘Mantras’ and ‘Mahjong,’” he said. “And with this record we’ve finally completed the journey. Now it’s time to share it with the world and sing it together.”
The release also arrives alongside ASAVA’s move to MDDN and Atlantic Records, giving the band a larger label platform as it prepares for a run of high-profile performances.
The first of those dates comes September 7 at The Underworld in London. ASAVA will then appear at Riot Fest 2026 in Chicago on September 19 before returning for shows at Mercury Lounge in New York on October 25 and The Echo in Los Angeles on October 27.
The Riot Fest appearance is particularly notable for the band’s current trajectory, placing ASAVA on a major festival stage less than a month after the release of Mahjong.
The current lineup listed by the band consists of Liam Brocious on vocals, Zach Rusher on guitar, Greg Cochran on bass and Spencer Cindia on drums.
With Mahjong now available and a series of fall performances ahead, ASAVA enters the remainder of 2026 with a full-length label debut, an expanding visual catalog and several opportunities to bring the record into a live setting.
Album Information
ASAVA — Mahjong
Release Date: August 28, 2026
Label: MDDN / Atlantic Records
Tracks: 16
Track Listing
Will
Leigh
The Centre
Repeat
Saveyourself
The White Rabbit
Comatose
Valhalla
Again
And Again
Until
All This Time
Death
Panthera
Don’t Go
The End
Tour Dates
09/07 — London, UK — Underworld
09/19 — Chicago, IL — Riot Fest 2026
10/25 — New York, NY — Mercury Lounge
10/27 — Los Angeles, CA — The Echo
Band Lineup
Liam Brocious — Vocals
Zach Rusher — Guitar
Greg Cochran — Bass
Spencer Cindia — Drums
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