Album Review: Barshasketh – Antinomian Asceticism (W.T.C.Productions)

On January 9th, 2025, internationally, W.T.C. Productions presents Barshasketh’s highly anticipated fifth album, ‘Antinomian Asceticism’, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Grandiose black metal with a heretical feel, Barshasketh’s new album is one for the end times. Be it destruction and devastation that comes in the form of fire or ice. The end result is all the same, nothing is left, and this monstrosity is that soundtrack.

Black metal through and through, what makes Antinomian Asceticism a more notable experience, aside from the ferociousness that Barshasketh display, is that it has an epic stance. More melodic, but layered, and more exciting as you never know quite what to expect next. Beginning in explosive fashion with the brash Radiant Aperture, a track that displays just what Barshasketh’s epic soundscapes are like, albeit from a harsh and unforgiving angle.

Not that anyone should ever really be doubting Barshasketh’s black metal abilities, after all, this is their fifth album, and each has proven to be as ruthless as any other. However, if you’re concerned upon hearing a word like ‘epic’ and ‘melody’ used when taking about this album, rest easy as the likes Nitimur in Vetitum with its feverish speed and heaviness, and Lebenswelt Below, a track more chaotic than any other, are the stuff of black metal wet dreams. It’s just nice to have more nuance to this kind of music.

It certainly helps keep things interesting as the album goes on and a track like Charnel Quietism is unleashed. Here, Barshasketh add thicker and more ambient-driven layers of horror to their black metal assault and the result is a thrilling showcase of heavy dread.

Speaking of ambience though, Phaneron Engulf (the shortest effort) is oozing in sinister vibes. Not just highly atmospheric, but robustly metal and all from an instrumental only angle. Then, long comes the gargantuan and garish title rrack to light the senses up even more. Before this black metal tome wraps up with Exultation of Ceaseless Defiance and a brazen showcase of instrumental savagery, vocal delivery, and every horrible thing in between.

Black metal capable of creating waking nightmares. That’s the power of Barshasketh.

Barshasketh – Antinomian Asceticism Track Listing:

1. Radiant Aperture
2. Nitimur in Vetitum
3. Lebenswelt Below
4. Charnel Quietism
5. Phaneron Engulf
6. Antinomian Asceticism
7. Exultation of Ceaseless Defiance

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | W.T.C.Productions