There was once a band called Wax Brain from Morgantown, West Virginia. On their first two releases, Wax Brain and II, they found their way and discovered their inner musical potential. By the time they made it to their third album in October 2021, Hive Mind, they were firing on all cylinders and at the top of their game.
I went into this album not expecting a whole lot. I listen to hundreds of fuzz metal albums and it can take quite a bit for a recording to really stick out. On this release, Wax Brain checked off all the boxes for what makes a good fuzz album in my opinion: mid-tempo catchy riffs, interesting lyrical concepts and vocal delivery, and clean production with thought put behind the album pacing.
Some of the standout tracks are Sativa, Indica, Return the Slab, and the title track Hive Mind. I particularly like the lyrics to Hive Mind, an epic opening track that is mostly instrumental. When it comes time for the meaningful lyrics about unity as a human race, I can’t help but to enjoy, agree, and sing along with them.
“We stand in stupor, we stand in awe.
Searching our minds for who we are.
We see the writing that’s on the wall.
To build together, or watch it fall.
I’ve seen from the highest mountains.
Rivers run white, people robbed blind.
We must stand together
and reconstruct the hive mind.”
One minor flaw with this record is the overall volume. It is a bit quieter than many other albums, which can be annoying when listening to multiple records back-to-back. The volume isn’t too bad, I’ve heard quieter recordings for sure, but I do wish they had mastered this one a little bit louder.
I patiently waited three years for a follow-up to Hive Mind, but was ultimately disappointed with what I got. In April 2024 Wax Brain released The Last Show, a live recording from March 2024. This was their final live performance and ultimate send-off as a band. I still enjoy Hive Mind from time to time and I’m thankful I was able to snag a few Wax Brain stickers while they were still active.
Wax Brain – Hive Mind (October 2021)
Number of tracks: 8
Runtime: 38 minutes 17 seconds
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