GRUMM TRENCHER - The Bat and the Hellebore (Premiere)

Written by: The Administrator
​
As established, I'm a fan of MEGAFAUNA. Referring, of course, to the marshdwelling experimental artist, and not real-life megafauna, which are frankly very frightening. But where MEGAFAUNA is often despair-prone and scary and anxiety-inducing, all too happy to feed a fear of the dark, xadaa's other project Grumm Trencher is a little more... comfy. It leans into a relaxed woodland vibe, and, even at its most urgent and chaotic, there is a warmth that reverberates.

I really enjoyed the sound and worldbuilding that went into Grumm Trencher's On the Culinary and Necromantic Uses for Various Species of Mushroom, and the followup wintery "Beira" single was extremely evocative. The project has a great track record. As such, the prospect of new Grumm Trencher was cause for celebration, once I wrestled it free from the all-hungry maw of the promo pit.

And so here it is: new Grumm Trencher. The Bat and the Hellebore, which we are pleased and honored to present here in full, will see full release on April 24th. This is an album that tells the story of a little brown bat and a big adventure, and with a description so short and sweet, I feel like I'm doing a disservice to said album by continuing to write words instead of just leaving it at that. But I am nothing if not annoyingly wordy, and so shall discuss The Bat and the Hellebore in detail below. Hit play on your way down. We'll meet again, as always, on the other side.

---

​

This album, and particularly the front half, is chock full o' instrumentation, far more so than I initially anticipated given my familiarity with the more classic dungeon synth sounds of previous Grumm Trencher outings. The Bat and the Hellebore is initially very string-heavy, very plucky and folky, leaning heavily into a sing-songy fiddle and and crisp banjo that contrasts pleasingly with the synth undercurrent. There's a woodsy vibe that works extremely well at introducing the bat character. And, speaking of "crisp," we frequently witness an array of sharp percussion bursting onto the scene with sudden bombast. Taking examples from the first few tracks alone, "The Bat Embarks" features a boom-clap, "Sneezewort" is punctuated with tense hits, and the energetic "Hunted" brings a martial menace. For a dungeon synth album, the sights and sounds are extremely varied, and the eclectic choices when it comes to percussion help define each track as a separate movement or chapter in the overall story. This is a quality I've always enjoyed when it comes to xadaa's work, and it's good to see the trend continue.

Sonically and narratively, there's a lot of cool stuff happening here. The aforementioned "The Bat Embarks" is adventurous and vivacious, depicting the hopeful first steps (flaps?) of a fresh voyage into the unknown. "New Friends" is a largely ethereal backdrop punctuated by bright plucking and an occasional weighty thump. I really enjoy this track's simple and hypnotic approach. Later, post-"Hunted," standout track "Plant Eaten By Fawns" utilizes an owl hoot to great effect--the uncanny mourning plays nicely off the urgent pace of the plucking. Some atmospheric thunder lends even more depth. When it emerges, the contrast of the hellebore's tinkling piano and more somber tone against the bat's vivacious folky string palette makes for an intriguing sonic transition from start to end.
​
The impact of carefully considered lore and worldbuilding is substantial when it comes to my enjoyment of things, and here, Grumm Trencher continues to construct and populate a particularly intriguing environ. I'm genuinely invested in the journey of this little bat. I worry about the trials and tribulations set before it, and I experience relief at the safe conclusion, back home in a dead tree. The Bat and the Hellebore makes for an engaging and thoroughly pleasing adventure. As before, I look forward to more stories from the comfy little Grumm Trencher universe. 

​Grumm Trencher - The Bat and the Hellebore will be released April 24th, 2026 via Syrup Moose Records. Find it on Bandcamp here and Ampwall here!

---

​Grumm Trencher ​can be found at Bandcamp and Ampwall, and also The Marsh
Cover art by ​Grumm Trencher ​