Album Review: Gravemind – Introsphere (Greyscale Records)

‘Introsphere’ is Gravemind’s sophomore album release, following 2019’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Conduit’, it will be released on August 2nd, 2024. ‘Introsphere’ offers cathartic release in a world suffocating under the weight of despair and acts as a beacon of hope in the darkness. The album urges listeners to look within and to open their eyes to the world inside, asking the questions: Can you find the balance between right and wrong? Love and hate? Real or make believe?

It’s no easy task to sum up the Gravemind sound, but at its simplest it can be called deathcore/metalcore with a techy edge. Yet, that doesn’t do the anthemic value of the album justice, as for all the wild intensity and brutal heaviness of this record, Gravemind deliver a mightily infectious release that demands you give over as much blood, sweat, and tears as humanely possible.

The first few tracks are the perfect exemplification of their punchy, bouncy, pit-destroying, and head-banging sound and likely to be the selling point of the record for most. Tracks like >_Terminal, Deathtouch, House of Cards, and Rorschach deliver a cacophony of feral instrumentation and vocals that sound equally furious and soar with epic power, all while being laced with melodic touches. There’s a ton of experimentation going on here, and it makes the first half of the album even more interesting. Even if the biggest takeaway is still something along the lines of… isn’t this band sounding f**king sick!?

The first of three guests, Code Orange’s Reba Meyers makes an appearance on the middle track, Anhedonia. The most melodically charged track so far, offering up a more epic soundscape, but still sounding so damn intense. Before everyone’s favourite composer (and the many other hats he wears), Mick Gordon helps Failstate sound positively demonic.

Proving to be a very compelling listen all the way to the end as Gravemind continue to cause carnage with True Life and Aloy. The former, Gravemind at their fastest and heaviest sounding. The latter, Gravemind at their most melodic. Don’t let that fool you though into believing that this track lacks intensity, it’s just that intensity is coming from a different place. When they get heavier, it just makes the whole thing so much better resulting in a very powerful piece of music.

The third and final guest is Jamie Hails of Polaris on the penultimate track, F.E.A.R. A chunky blast of heavy noise, that illustrates their ‘core’ crossed with tech-metal ways perfectly. Fast and furious from the very start, there is no let up as the track goes harder and harder, leading to a breakdown that will crack skulls.

So, how does an album like this wrap up? With Gravemind pushing a moodier and darker vibe, causing mental and physical turmoil with some of the heaviest parts of the album, and pushing the technical side of the band to an even more prominent place. It’s a massive and mean finale that leaves a strong feeling of satisfaction. Gravemind have delivered on this album, and few will be left wanting.

Gravemind – Introsphere Track Listing:

1. >_Terminal
2. Deathtouch
3. House of Cards
4. Rorschach
5. Anhedonia (Ft. Reba Meyers)
6. Failstate (Ft. Mick Gordon)
7. True Life
8. Aloy
9. F.E.A.R. (Ft. Jamie Hails)
10. Pranic Lift

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