MOUNTAIN EYE is an Alternative Metal band from the Netherlands who formed in the summer of 2017. First We Become Ashes is their second album and is self-produced. Whilst MOUNTAIN EYE say they have Alternative Metal at the roots of their sound I would say it has more of a Nu-Metal core. Sure it incorporates electronics, ambient themes and other styling but has a definite Nu-Metal vibe to the overall sound. "One of Nothing" opens up the album with a heavy Nu-Metal intro. It sounds well produced and certainly hits hard. I did feel though that the vocals were too much with clean, electronic and screams. At one point the electronics merge with pig-squeals and whilst it also adds ambient sounds to the track, I think less change in vocals would have worked better.

"Synopsis" starts with an urgent riff which got my head banging until electronics dominate the verse with some of the electronic vocals being somewhat annoying in the chorus and detracting from my enjoyment of the track. Some speed spoken vocals add a different dynamic. Two-thirds through, Arthur screams "I am humanity" over a Nu-Metal riff which works well and overall it's a good track. "Watershed" continues the Nu-Metal style with a heavy riff paving the way for a mellow electronic fused guitar verse. The vocals reminded me of KORN in part of the song and it's a decent track overall. After an OK ballad "Away From Here" and a short instrumental interlude comes the funky Spanish-guitar tinged "Let Me Dream Forever" which has an infectious Nu-Metal riff and a punchy chorus. A darker doomier riff towards the end leads to the chorus. It's a pretty good track although not a great fan of Arthur's clean vocals which sound too Emo for my taste.

Same with the chorus in "Peschera" and "Event Horizon", the latter reminding me of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. "Knives" is a good track, opening with electronic beats with some good dual vocals in the verse. There's a catchy riff and chorus too and it's a song that doesn't try to shoehorn everything in like some of the songs. Having said that it does weirdly have a CODE ORANGE like riff before the chorus comes in again but the tracks certainly have variety. That continues with the atmospheric "Hibernation" which segues into "My Last Winter Trail" which is a decent ballad and builds into one of the best choruses on the album. "Elemental" has screamo vocals over a fast funky riff before the KORN-ish vocals enter the chorus and the album ends on the vomiting vocal style on the unremarkable  "IME"

In listening to this album twice, nothing really grabbed me and whilst I admire the band for taking chances and infusing Nu-Metal riffs with an assortment of electronics/ambience, differing vocals and other stuff, only a handful of tracks really worked. Often there's too much going on and I think it would benefit from simplifying the song structure to make the songs really stand out.  If you love Nu-Metal and want a different take on it, then you may well enjoy the experience but overall I was left unmoved.