Review by Saxy S for Ashbringer - Subglacial (2026)

For an album typically categorized as blackgaze (including on the bands own Bandcamp page), I was shocked by how little reverb Subglacial was given in post-production. It gives the album a unique sense of raw and grounded emotion brought forth in the music and lyricism. However, the record's unique tonal quality might also be its biggest flaw, since the low end of the mix is painfully lacking throughout. Credit where it is due; there IS a bass presence that can be felt at times during the slower moving sections and the acoustic breaks, but when the guitars take over and start their tremolo picking, the bass is pitiful. And that turns out to be a huge shame because somewhere beneath the surface is a pretty solid album from Ashbringer. The stories told through the music are memorable, while also feeling engaging and immense. The transitions from soft to aggression are executed at the right time, the album isn't scared to flex its muscle in the long song department, without going overboard. But all of that feels like a mute point when the grounded bass lines are so flimsy and non-existent. It makes the whole concept of being grounded, back-to-reality, feel like a fools errand. In an attempt to swim, Ashbringer got their feet frozen underwater.

Best Songs: Subglacial, Send Him to the Lake