Hive Mind Narcosis by Thantifaxath

There’s a new classic to add to the North American black metal pantheon. Thantifaxath’s Hive Mind Narcosis presents the ultimate statement on chaos, presented by a speaker who is absolutely shattered into a million pieces. On the one hand, the shooting spread of disorder through the veins of society raises alarm bells, inspiring disgust that leads to a desperate rebellion on all fronts. On the other hand, however, one person’s pointless stand against massive social processes only seems to waste the ever-shrinking time between now and the end of things, meaning that one ought to give up and go with the flow. Thantifaxath grapples with this dichotomy and eventually decides to release a record instead of actually resolving the tension.

Though many elements of Hive Mind Narcosis jump out as special and noteworthy, the album’s erratic shifts in time signature take center stage, propelling the narrative of excruciating internal conflict. For those of us experiencing a similar oscillation between nihilistic acceptance of meaningless chaos and a deep desire to restore order to our surroundings, Hive Mind Narcosis provides an irreplaceable channel for catharsis.

-Michael