THANTIFAXATH – Hive Mind Narcosis

Still doubting Canada? Don’t. In thrash, death, black, or any metal subgenre, this North American country has produced bands that have left an indelible mark on extreme music since the late ’70s, and it continues to expand that circle with remarkable new acts. Enter Thantifaxath, an underground Toronto creation that has shown just how different they are since 2011.

 

At first glance, many wouldn’t know what to expect from a band with a name that sounds more like a pharmaceutical than a metal act. Here’s where the famous phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” comes in. Remaining completely anonymous, the members have crafted a sound that can be loosely labeled avant-garde, but it defies easy categorization. Their experimental approach recalls the methods of Deathspell Omega and Portal. This is already high praise. Yet in some ways, Thantifaxath even surpasses them. From their self-titled EP (2011) to their first full-length, Sacred White Noise (2014), the Canadians displayed staggering potential. They blended classic black, noise, ambient, sludge, and even traces of prog-thrash reminiscent of fellow countrymen Voivod. The odd time signatures add to this comparison. This otherworldly dimension carries over into Hive Mind Narcosis. Its cover features Francisco Goya’s iconic Witches’ Flight. The album draws the listener into a 46-minute journey full of shifting moods and textures.

 

The album moves from slow, oppressive passages to sudden bursts of speed (Solar Witch). Dissonant, acidic melodies (The Lost Wisdom of Wolve) erupt into unusual, dramatically intense tonalities. At times, sheer violence dominates (Surgical Utopian Love). At others, eerie echoes and trembling atmospheres take hold (Hungry Ghosts). The listener is constantly kept on edge. The record is beautiful, unsettling, profound, and introspective. It dives deep into minor harmonic scales and uses vocal lines that range from powerful screams to subdued, textured passages. All of this unfolds in solemn sections. Soaring guitars and hypnotic percussion weave a tapestry that inspires awe.

 

Breaking down every track minute by minute would be redundant. This is an album that isn’t meant to be fully “comprehended” on the first listen. It’s an original sonic dimension, at times untouchable. Thanks to Thantifaxath, it translates into pure epicness. Hive Mind Narcosis cements the visionary talent of these musicians. From the very beginning, they have offered music outside the rules. They defy logic and evolve with each release. Now, that sound has become a true trademark, almost impossible to replicate. Whatever they have in store for the future, one thing is certain: disappointment is not on the menu.