Atmospheric black metal is one of those subgenres that should lend itself well to experimentation, exploration, and just more overall creativity. Yet recently, it’s been criticized for failing to do just that. Some may not agree, but one of the primary trends I’ve noticed lately has been the new boundaries black metal has pushed, specifically in an atmospheric sense. From the ambient to the relentless, it seems we’re constantly getting new twists on the style. This time, however, Hope Drone gives us a bit of everything with their debut full length, Cloak of Ash. It covers the full spectrum of the atmospheric black metal universe, making it undoubtedly ambitious. And for the most part, it delivers.
Hope Drone is a relatively new project out of Brisbane, Australia that I’ve only recently become familiar with. With just a single and an EP to their name until now, they’ve made sure to cram as much as possible into their full-length debut. That’s true stylistically, but it’s also true of its run time. Cloak of Ash requires commitment and focus. Its seven tracks combine to last nearly 80 minutes, with opener “Unending Grey” spanning more than 20 on its own. All but one other track here is over nine minutes.It can be intimidating to go through 40 minutes of music and realize you’re only on the third song. So sit down and don’t make plans to go anywhere for awhile.
The music itself, however, is wonderfully dynamic. From “Unending Grey” onward, Hope Drone covers just about everything: from a sludgy harsh cadence reminiscent of classic Vattnet Viskar or Misþyrming, to the ambient pain of something closer to Ghost Bath or early Alcest. And they show this diversity in virtually every track. The pace stops and starts time and again, and a track like “Riverbeds Hewn in Marrow” can deviate from ferocious tremolo picking and blast beats to extremely deliberate funeral doom metal qualities.
Yet somehow, none of this feels forced—even with those gargantuan song lengths. For stylistic qualities that cover a range as expansive as these, all of the time changes and transitions seem effortless, which is massive complement to Hope Drone’s writing abilities. Looking at this from a bit of a higher level, the production is clean enough where none of the leads are lost, but organic enough to fulfill the atmospheric quality of the sound. It helps keep the backbone of this record in check and the sound cohesive.
So far this year, I have likened various black metal sounds to feelings inspired by dark winter woods, Icelandic volcanoes, and interstellar exploration. This time, Hope Drone creates a sound almost oceanic in feel. And yes, the artwork and lyrical content help. When you focus on the slower, more punishing moments on the likes of “The World Inherited,” “Every End is Fated in Its Beginning,” or either of the closing two tracks, the music becomes encompassing in a way that feels like you’re succumbing to the might of the open ocean in a storm. I need to emphasize: this sound is massive. It can be melodic, and it can be clean and well-kept when necessary, but overall, it’s suffocating in its depth. When you hear the moments of defined rhythm and percussion, you feel each beat collapse your existence in the same way an ocean wave constricts you before forcing you downward. Every single note resonates.
These moments of deliberation are done for a very distinct purpose: to show an aspect of Hope Drone’s sound that may be lost in the moments of speed and ferocity. It makes it impressively large. From the echoing, shrieking vocals to the well-defined guitars that explore all ranges of sound, it all works with the rhythms to create something truly awe-inspiring. And despite all the elements at work, every sound we already recognize, it’s this facet that puts Hope Drone’s stamp on atmospheric black metal.
If you can commit yourself to Cloak of Ash—all its diversity and all the time it consumes—it’s worth it. It impresses in the way it manipulates various elements of atmospheric black metal while creating a sound that is truly encompassing. Atmospheric exploration in sound is the embodiment of this record, and it works brilliantly. This ties in many of the styles that have already pushed the limits of what defines “black metal” and uses them to create something ambitiously unique. Hope Drone has clearly shown us what they are capable of in style and quality with Cloak of Ash. Now what I want to know is: where will they take it next?
“Ein Bier… bitte.”
-Corey
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