- Country: United States
- Style: Atmospheric black metal
- Label: Self-released
- Release date: 13 February 2026
Subglacial is the fifth Ashbringer album, and the Minneapolis band made it entirely in-house. Founder Nick Stanger produced, mixed and mastered it at Sound of the Northwoods in Minneapolis in 2025, the band engineered it themselves, and it came out on 13 February as a self-release, with the digital version on a name-your-price basis. The line-up is Stanger and Jackson Catton on guitars, vocals and synths, Nathan Wallestad on bass and Andy Meyer on drums.
Six songs, just under forty minutes. The clean singing of We Came Here to Grieve is gone, and the jazzier drumming of Absolution has been reined in; what remains is straight atmospheric black metal with strong riffs and a blackgaze tilt at the end. The eight-minute title track is the centrepiece, “Send Him to the Lake” has the album’s best riff, and “Vessels” closes on its most melodic note.
The do-it-yourself sound is raw but clear, and the vocals are easy to follow. If anything the record plays it a little safe after the risks of the last two. Solid, well written, and a good way into the band.
Best tracks:
Subglacial
Send Him to the Lake
Vessels
Author’s rating: 7.5/10
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