Review: Ashbreather – Hivemind

Style: Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, Death Metal (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: early Mastodon, Neurosis, Conjurer
Review by: Christopher
Country: Canada
Release date: 11 November, 2022

When browsing albums to review, it can grow tiresome to see the same old tropes rehashed, and a particularly prevalent cliche is that of Lovecraftian sci-fi horror. Don’t get me wrong, I love that eldritch stuff, but so many bands are peddling records about unfathomable beings of horror that they start to blur into one. To stand apart you need imagination, and that’s exactly what Canadian sludgers Ashbreather have to spare on their sophomore release. 

A sci-fi horror concept work, Hivemind tells the tale of scientists travelling the cosmos to learn about alien intelligence by dissecting and forming neurological links with extraterrestrial species. They discover a planet inhabited by insects sharing a hivemind intelligence. However, this isn’t the traditional idea of a hivemind where all the individuals share a single identity, but one formed of individuals who can hear the thoughts of all others, leading to stifling, tyrannical conformity; a mental panopticon. The subsequent meeting of the two species’ minds has terrible repercussions. It’s a little more imaginative than your average Lovecraft-inspired concept record and evokes the psychological elements of the story sonically.

As one thirty-seven minute long track, “Hivemind” is divided into movements which take us through a variety of soundscapes from lumbering sludge riffs to moments of death metal intensity and a good deal of ambient droning, variously recalling Dvne, early Mastodon, Slugdge—even a hint of Oranssi Pazuzu. On Spotify, Hivemind’s movements are separated into individual songs but I don’t recommend listening to it this way; there are no natural stopping points and this really is one long song.

A long instrumental bifurcates the album and narrative moving from nightmarish dronescapes through to reverb-laden guitar chords, and a languorously evil saxophone solo jamming out with the lead guitar; all work in concert to evoke the melding of minds taking place in our story. When the vocals return, we find that the scientist has successfully infiltrated the hivemind and their entire society begins to transform, this new addition to their collective consciousness spreading like a virus with the insects self-mutilating to resemble the mad scientist. The second half revisits some of the musical motifs from the first half, giving the work something of a Russian doll structure; the penultimate movement borrowing from the second movement, and closing with a reprise of the introductory movement. 

All three members contribute vocals, meaning that the album moves through Dvne-esque harshes, higher black metal inspired screams, and some gruffer cleans that remind me of Troy Sanders (Mastodon). Indeed, the noodling licks and thunderous riffs that appear on Hivemind would make Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher proud. However, overall Ashbreather’s sound has half a foot in cosmic horror melodeath. At their most extreme, I hear shades of Slugdge—not least because Matt Moss provides guest vocals—suffusing the otherwise sludgy aural drama. The production is decent but it could be better, and at times certain instruments feel a little let down by it. Sometimes the guitar and vocals are a little lower in the mix than they should be, with those howling dronescapes taking precedence. 

Moments of intense ambience act as transitions between some movements on a smaller scale than the main break. Later those drones get into the psychedelic horror territory of Oranssi Pazuzu, a howling sonic deluge like a mind afire with billions of thoughts and perspectives. I confess I’m not usually a big fan of artist’s relying on ambience, but Ashbreather utilise a howling horror soundtrack that both elevates their story and proves sonically engaging, whilst evolving and ultimately separating the album and story into three acts. 

If, like me, you’ve grown weary of the usual cosmic horror narratives in progressive metal, Ashbreather have the cure for what ails you; a thrilling concept album that consistently delivers, Hivemind is an impressive sophomore, albeit one that’s a little rough around the edges. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what bizarre tales of horror Ashbreather conjure in future as they refine their sound. 

Recommended tracks: Hivemind, duh.
You may also like: Dvne, Slugdge, Hath, Stone Healer, Anciients, Left Hand Perspective
Final verdict: 7/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Metal-Archives page

Label: Independent

Ashbreather is:
– Mackay Agellon (guitars, vocals, percussion, saxophone)
– Charles Richards (bass, vocals, percussion, drones)
– Colin MacAndrew (drums, vocals, percussion)