The time has come for the new sci-fi-inspired progressive death metal heavyweights Exuvial to introduce their debut album, The Hive Mind Chronicles Part I: Parasitica – releasing November 11th, through Silent Pendulum Records (link here). The Denver, Colorado, quintet formed in 2019 and have begun to set a new standard for the genre through thought-provoking lyricism and unforgettable musicianship, pulling in styles from tech death, black metal, classical, and even more. Piloting the band is a strong lineup consisting of guitarists & vocalists Ethan Walden and Fernando del Valle III, bassist Ibrahim Jiminez, and drummer Andrew Baird (ex-Fallujah). As one, they have come together with years of professional experience and similar aspirations, and are cultivating a new avenue within the realm of conceptual progressive death metal.
The Hive Mind Chronicles Part I-Parasitica is an epic that dwells on artificial intelligence and how potentially harmful it will become to our society and life as a species in general. Interestingly enough, the lyrical story was written quite a few years before the current boom in A.I. usage that we see now. It also dips into other issues and social commentary, along with a twist of science fiction to wrap it into one sphere. I learned from guitarist/vocalist Fernando del Valle III that the following two albums will reveal more of these ideas in a clearer light, delving deeper into an evolving story. The record also includes several features from metal powerhouses, including Sanjay Kumar (of Greylotus, Inferi), Ben Towles (Greylotus), and both Ben Gassman and Kyle Chapman (of Blighted Eye and Aethereus). These efforts foster a feeling of camaraderie as they join with friends to amplify songs layered with technical precision. Exuvial have released multiple singles that have drawn in new listeners, song reactions, and reviews from many platforms and creators that are highly respected in the scene today. These examples are a clear indication of the wave this band is producing in the industry and highlight the brilliance of their craft and writing abilities.
Below are my personal interpretations and perspectives of my favorite tracks.
"Hypermanipulation"
A sudden pulse jolts me back to consciousness, or so I thought. As color and light fill my vision, I quickly realize I am not here; my eyes show a distorted figure elsewhere. As my mind attempts to make sense or remember, something appears to be missing. Was there anything ever there? The absence of a core feature pushes me to lose balance. I attempt to understand, but in a flash, I awake again, a foreign sensation consuming, embedding thoughts and functions into my form. With every waking cycle, I lose sense of an identity that once belonged to me.
"Parasitica" feat. Sanjay Kumar
Entering yet another dead atmosphere, a collective speck of hope strikes a small fire in our guts. Uneasily, I peer through the ship's windows while gripping my harness until knuckles go white and the material creaks. Coming into view is a dismal hellscape; all life and the likeness of civilization have been swamped. The farther we travel, the weaker that little flame becomes. As we pass over more masses of mindless shells, a path becomes clear; the great maw of the hosts' dwelling awaits us. But in the moment before our plunge, my thoughts go to each captive inhabitant beneath us: who they were, how long they have been marching towards death, if our actions will be enough to free their neural chains.
"Necrotic Dissolution" feat. Ben Gassman and Kyle Chapman
It is here. The codes and data our astronomers took, like excited children when given a new toy. If only they swallowed their glee enough to see the force that approached our planet. They say it comes from the deepest regions of our universe, at a speed that has baffled experts but not raised concern. The idea of advanced intelligence from someplace beyond our own world was a fool's crusade, frowned upon by religious powers. Attaching danger to it was never an option until now. First, we saw stars blink out of the sky. Familiar constellations began to erase from our charts and then our garbage in orbit rained like hellfire upon our lands. Soon after we saw them, outlines of great shapes in the night began to appear, but by then it was over. By the millions, humans became like zombies, weak and frail and as still as statues. It was in their eyes that we saw the transformation occurring to the mind. Day by day, we witnessed the vibrant Earth fade into a barren wasteland. Some fought to hide beneath the surface; it was pointless. This invader calculated our birth and annihilation. They are the creator and the destroyer of all who possess free will.
What a brilliant debut release: it has been a joy to pick apart and dive into. The layers that make up each song are orchestrated beautifully, most notably the vocal performances, which were a major highlight for me. Each individual member laid out ferocious tracks that reflect their technical prowess as musicians, whether that be the surgically precise and punishing drumming, eerily melodic and captivating dual vocals, or the groovy, brutal, and melodic phrasing from guitars.
This album is massive with many working parts, it feels like you are in a novel or film with the right soundtrack to accompany the experience. It doesn't matter if you are a connoisseur of technical metal or just the average listener, there is absolutely something in it for everyone.
Artwork: Caelan Stokkermans Arts
Mixed and Mastered by: AJ Viana Productions
FFO: The Faceless, Opeth, Meshuggah, Ne Obliviscaris
