Formed in Montreal in April 2022, Heavy Rock quartet Hazemind spent years refining their fuzzy sound at Hazemind HQ before releasing their debut full-length, “Inner Sanctum,” on September 04, 2026. Melding stoner metal textures with introspective themes, the album marks the arrival of a powerful new force in the Canadian scene. We caught up with the band to discuss their journey, the DIY ethos of the record, and the concepts driving their crushing debut.
Hazemind started as an instrumental trio back in 2022. How did those early jamming sessions in René’s rehearsal space shape your core chemistry?
Elliot: “We actually just jammed once at René’s space, and that was enough to seal the deal for us as a band. We moved in to Hazemind HQ just a couple of weeks later. The chemistry was almost instantaneous.“
You eventually relocated to a dedicated creative space, “Hazemind HQ.” How did having your own headquarters impact your daily creative workflow and sound development?
Elliot: “Mathieu and I independently write all the riffs at home, but being able to bring them to the HQ and jam them out any day of the week definitely made it a lot easier for us to turn these riffs into songs. The instruments on the album were recorded there also, giving us the opportunity to explore different sounds without budgetary or time constraints.“
Your lineup was finalized when vocalist Jonathan Lachapelle joined after two years of instrumental work. How did his arrival reshape your approach to songwriting?
Elliot: “It was great for us. We basically just rearranged the structure of some songs we had already written before Jonathan joined the band. We were already used to writing music as a band, because while the riffs are all Mathieu and I, the music and the songs are from all of us, collectively.“
The name Hazemind has a great, atmospheric ring to it. What is the story behind the name, and how does it reflect your musical direction?
Elliot: “The band name was my idea. It was my only suggestion to the boys, and while they also suggested several band names, we ended up going with Hazemind because it has a heavy and psychedelic ring to it, which represents our music very well.“
Your debut album, “Inner Sanctum,” is finally out. What does this title mean to you, and what kind of mental or creative “sanctuary” does it represent?
Mathieu: “To us, Inner Sanctum represents the psychological and mental side of being human. Finding inner peace starts with having a clear mind. But today, we are constantly surrounded by things that can challenge that peace. It can come from illness, society’s expectations, a life-changing event, or from something as simple as our own thoughts. It can come from anywhere. We all have our own battles to fight. The message we want to express is simple; don’t run from your battles. Life becomes so much more meaningful when you choose to hold on and keep going, no matter how hard it gets or how long it takes… because sometimes, finding inner peace means fighting for it.“
“Inner Sanctum” was recorded, produced, and mixed entirely by yourselves at Hazemind HQ. What were the biggest advantages, and challenges, of keeping this process completely in-house?
Elliot: “The biggest advantage was obviously budgetary; we didn’t have to shell out for a recording studio. We could also take our time to record individually in our free time, and when we felt at our best. Jonathan actually has an isolated vocal corner at home so he can truly record at his leisure. On the flip side, the process was especially challenging for me, as this was the first full length LP that I produced with a full band. I learned a lot about recording and mixing in the process. It’s all good though, because it’s something I was very enthusiastic to do.“
While you handled the recording and mixing internally, you collaborated with Carl Saff for mastering. How did his touch help finalize the sonic weight of the album?
Elliot: “It really gave it that professional, polished sound that makes it sound like a record. Mr. Saff mastered the latest Sacri Monti, Elder, Sasquatch, and Lo-Pan records, so there’s no denying the man is a true expert of the craft. Plus he’s very friendly and I actually learned a lot from working with him.“
Lyrically, the album explores deep themes like isolation, escape, and internal conflict. What drew you to these specific concepts during the writing process?
Jonathan: “My main inspiration for writing lyrics on this album was my difficult relationship with my son who has cut ties with me years ago, and the remorse of what could’ve been done to avoid our relationship spiraling out.“
The album opens with the high-energy road song “Burning Fuel.” Why did you feel this fast-paced track was the perfect introduction to the record?
Elliot: “It’s the first song we wrote as a band, and we worked on it extensively, so we felt that it represented the identity of our sound really well. It’s mid-tempo, heavy and groovy, a bit psychedelic, it has the perfect blend of elements that constitute our sonic signature.“
“Mountain” is a sprawling, 7.35 minute piece that shifts from Atmospheric Rock to aggressive Stoner Metal. How did you approach balancing these contrasting dynamics?
Mathieu: “Mountain is about the battle against depression — the constant struggle between darkness, clarity, exhaustion, and the will to keep moving forward. Musically, we wanted the song to reflect the different mental and emotional states that can come with that battle. The music is constantly shifting, just like the mind can. We move from steady, almost hypnotic grooves into faster, more aggressive riffs, then pull everything back again. Atmospheric passages give way to heavier, more metal-driven sections, before drifting into a bluesier feel and building the intensity once more. These changes in tempo, weight, and atmosphere are intentional. They represent the highs and lows, the moments of control and the moments when everything feels overwhelming. There is no straight path through depression — sometimes you feel like you’re moving forward, only to find yourself back in the same place. Mountain is that struggle put into music: the feeling of standing at the bottom of something enormous, knowing you have to climb it one step at a time.“
“Hellfire” features very intense, apocalyptic imagery. What was the main inspiration behind this struggle to “rise above disorder“?
Jonathan: “The struggle, that I illustrate as “the storm taking over”, is the constant pressure of work and relationships weighing down on us, while “rising above disorder” is about keeping cool and embracing that ‘storm.’“
Tracks like “Welcome To The Void” and “Broken Ropes” explore darker emotional landscapes. Is writing and playing such Heavy Music a form of catharsis for you?
Elliot: “Music is definitely our main emotional outlet. We all have pretty busy lives… Bits and I are professional drivers, Jonathan works construction, and Mathieu occupies a high-level manager role. Every week we meet at the HQ to shoot the shit and bash out some tunes, and we all love it. We’ve all become very good friends.“
“Interruption” is a brief spoken-word interlude performed by Charles-Indy Cadieux. How did this collaboration come about, and what is its role in the album’s flow?
Elliot: “I was actually about to record the spoken word myself, but after the first take, my girlfriend told me I should ask my brother instead… which was definitely the best course of action, as he did an excellent job in one take on his cellphone while on a trip to Italy. As for the flow, Jonathan and I quickly sketched out ”Interruption” after all the songs were recorded, because I felt like the gap between ”Broken Ropes” and ”When The Leader Speaks” was too sudden, and it needed, in fact, some kind of interruption.“
“When The Leader Speaks” tackles themes of control, blind obedience, and rebellion. What inspired the narrative behind this powerful track?
Jonathan: “I basically just related to my son who perceives his father as a dictator.“
The album closes with the two-part sequence “The Shell.” What does the shell represent, and why did you choose this transition into “madness” to end the record?
Jonathan: “It’s about the never ending desire to make music. Despite all the hardships we meet along the way, we get out of our comfort zone (the shell) and face our challenges. In some ways, this allows us to get away from ‘the edge of the end.‘”
Elliot: “We felt it was right to conclude the record with “The Shell” because it’s a lengthy progressive track, which are qualities that might not particularly catch everyone’s attention at first listen. So our thought process was, if a listener made it to the end of our record, he must enjoy our sound enough to be able to appreciate it.“
Your studio tracks have an incredibly rich, raw, and fuzzy atmosphere. How do you plan to bring these complex sonic layers onto the live stage?
Elliot: “There’s not really any kind of “studio magic” on the record; it’s all just microphones capturing the drums and our amplifiers. Mathieu, Jonathan and I use various effect pedals, so the atmosphere follows us naturally on stage.“
Being based in Montreal, how do you see the local Heavy Rock and Stoner Metal community today? Is it a supportive environment for emerging bands?
Elliot: “It’s very supportive in my opinion, considering the fact that Montreal has a very active nightlife and numerous venues that host bands in the heavy scene. We feel lucky to be part of the city.“
Beyond Canada, how do you view the global Stoner and Desert Rock scene? Are there any contemporary bands you feel particularly connected with?
Elliot: “It’s exploding, and we love discovering new bands! Our main contemporary influences are American bands like Lo-Pan, Sasquatch, The Sword, Mastodon, High On Fire, Red Fang…“
Now that the record is streaming and available on Bandcamp, what lies ahead for Hazemind in terms of tours or physical releases?
Mathieu: “We currently have vinyl records in production. They should be ready for release around the end of November, maybe beginning of December 2026. For the next year, our focus will be on doing a lot of shows and perhaps a tour to promote the album. We already started creating new music for the second album.“
With its crushing riffs, rich atmospheres, and poignant lyricism, “Inner Sanctum” is an excellent debut that Stoner and Heavy Rock fans shouldn’t miss. You can stream the album in full on YouTube and grab the digital record, along with exclusive merch, on Hazemind‘s Bandcamp. Stay tuned to Progressive Rock Journal for our upcoming full review.
Purchase “Inner Sanctum” on Bandcamp: https://hazemind.bandcamp.com/album/inner-sanctum
Lineup:
Jonathan Lachapelle / Vocals
Elliot Cadieux / Guitar
Mathieu Pelletier / Bass
René ”Bits” Hosson / Drums