Somewhere between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, the rif largely disappeared from mainstream rock & pop. Its transformative power - the rif as a means to transport thelistener into another dimension - became an art cherished only in the underground of rock and metal. One of the strongproponents of that transformative power is ASTROSAUR, an overlooked gem in the international heavy psyche rock and postmetal scene. The Norwegian power trio has been employing the rif as their principal mode of transport since their 2017 debut album Fade In // Space Out. Now, with the release of their third album Portals, ASTROSAUR are sounding more expansive and convincing than ever, delivering an intuitive exploration of the infnite powered by soaring guitars and surging grooves.