10 / 10
➤ "... a wonderful soundscape that completely envelops the listener ... an album to be enjoyed in its entirety and with all five senses ... the sequences of the pieces flow in an organic and natural way, blending perfectly into each other ... the sonic ideas are perfectly chosen, adding texture and nuance to the atmosphere ... a great experience ... undoubtedly an amazing work that for me is one of the best of the year."
(RessMetal)
10 / 10
➤ "... a hellish journey in icy cold ... goes under the skin in the most brutal way ... musically really unique and from the historical aspect outstanding ... everyone who likes to deal with history, true and cruel tales and enjoys refined played Black Metal, I recommend ANTRISCH to ..."
(Schwarze Flamme)
9,5 / 10
➤ "... matures with time to a real treasure, you just have to give it these ... there is so much to discover ... the deeper you dig, the more you are drawn into the spell ... very haunting ... is transported in perfect language the suffering, death, horror and cold unerringly ..."
(Metal Heads DE)
9 / 10
➤ "... proof of the band's compositional skills, building atmospherics with masterfully mixed sound effects, old recordings and layered guitar parts ... a true feast of complex emotions ... incredibly intense ... harrowingly vivid retelling ... an album not to be missed ..."
(Distorted Sound)
9 / 10
➤ "This is one such release that has all the best Black Metal has to offer with sufficient additional elements to tick every one of my musical taste boxes. Not only is this stunningly atmospheric it’s got flourishes of Thrash, Death and Groove Metal all mixed into a lovely palate of Metal goodness, which kicks endless amounts of arse from start to finish. It’s killer."
(Sister Mary's Metal Reviews)
9 / 10
➤ "... variable, multi-layered and detailed ... epic, atmospheric pieces that should go down well with followers of Helrunar ... vehement riffs ... a demanding, expressive journey that sends the listener on an atmospheric rollercoaster: between melancholic contemplation and nasty hopelessness ..."
(AMMO Supports The Underground)
4 / 5
➤ "… aggressive, flickering in all the right places and with an enjoyably dark tone … flow comfortably, either with BM-style snarls, a slightly deeper chorus or a dark narrative voice babbling the events of the story … how on earth is this self-publishing … a hell of a high quality …"
(Inferno)
8,7 / 10
➤ "... a truly impressive long-player debut ... the atmosphere and mood are intense and oppressive at the same time ... highly original and independent ... cold, sharp and edgy ..."
(Time For Metal)
13 / 15
➤ "ANTRISCH and their previous releases are to be understood as a total work of art. Here, an enormous amount of time is invested in the sophisticated concept … succeeded exquisitely!"
(Folkmetal AT)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… an album that recalls wonderful formations, the most obvious of which is The Great Old Ones, but also Xasthur, where even Blut Aus Nord on some almost hallucinated passages, without becoming a pale copy …"
(Soil Chronicles)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… an excellent album … inspired Black Metal that is never redundant and whose dark atmosphere perfectly fits the story … singer Maurice Wilson penetrates the bones with icy precision, both in the narrated parts and especially in the screams … I have not found any weaknesses in this album; on the contrary … one of the best releases 2023 …"
(Metal Shutter)
8 / 10
➤ "... melodic Black Metal in very cold sound colors ... varied and rich in contrast ... well done, especially the atmosphere is really dense. The desperate ambience, the sheer coldness and hopelessness come across credibly ... for demanding Black Metal fans ... really worth listening to ... Franklin's expedition of 1845 failed. Antrisch's expedition of 2023 by no means."
(Dark Festivals)
8 / 10
➤ "... at the beginning like a radio play ... after less than a minute the raw elemental force breaks loose ... the chilling coldness of the lyrics is impressively underlined by the atmospheric music and the clear production ... sometimes frosty and angry, but sometimes also melancholic and dreamy sounds ... you can confidently talk about exciting song structure ... here everything has its place! If you like bands like Helrunar, Nagelfar or Nocte Obducta and don't like boring mass-produced stuff, this is the right place for you!"
(Crossfire)
8 / 10
➤ "… the half-post and half-atmospheric Black Metal of ANTRISCH offers us a good insight into the loneliness and confinement, the iron discipline and madness that is becoming more and more entrenched in the minds of people, as well as the desolation that can be seen from the bridge on the ice … among the strongest that extreme music has to offer."
(Horns Up FR)
8 / 10
➤ "The screams are ice-cold and wind-sharp, the guitars glacially tuned, the bass booming and groaning ... the band indeed keep you well captivated and close to the story ... the melody lines used, the piercing lead parts and the biting vocals leave you breathless ... a captivatingly melodic Black Metal record ..."
(Zware Metalen)
8 / 10
➤ "As a Black Metal album that relies on its melodies and smart song construct, it’s refreshing to see so much depth and history intertwined in the lyrics … between dreary and desperate … where the cold, lingering riffs almost dictate the outcome of the events and the fate of the ones speaking, whereas with the last track of the album, 'IIIIII 68° 15′ N 98° 45′ W – 68° 54′ N 98° 56′ W' (Yep, coordinates!) one doesn’t even need lyrics, as letting the music alone pull you deeper into the ocean is more than enough."
(Metal Exposure)
8 / 10
➤ "Conceptually, 'Expedition II: Die Passage' is undoubtedly a 10/10 release … a really good album overall, and Antrisch is one of the more exciting bands I've come across this year."
(Heavymetal.dk)
7,5 / 10
➤ "...an excellent album made by excellent musicians with very good ideas …"
(Groundcast)
7 / 10
➤ "... an impressive long-player debut - especially against the background that this took place in independent production. The atmosphere is intense and oppressive, the concept holistically thought and by using different elements there is always variety and tension."
(Metal DE)
3,5 / 5
➤ "... a sound experience for spoiled Black Metal fans ... sensational music epic ... perfect for those who are looking for new sound experiences and like to go on a musical journey."
(Metal Underground AT)
➤ "... fits together perfectly ... perfectly able to convey the feeling the crew of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror may have felt at the time ... perfectly constructed to express all the emotions felt during their final and deadly voyage ... flawless and believable ... not a bit romanticized ... the cold and harsh environment the crew faced is immortalized by the sick and vicious look of ANTRISCH, whose ability to convey the inhospitable environment is to be praised beyond measure … the cold performance gives the songs that verisimilitude and accuracy that the story needs ..."
(Metal Addicts)
➤ "… interesting from a progressive music point of view are the liberal amounts of passages that exist on the border between being ambient expansions and cinematic oriented creations, with careful instrument use, sound effects and occasionally featuring spoken words … a production to seek out if a more cinematic and atmospheric laden variety of Extreme Progressive Metal strikes you as an interesting landscape to explore …"
(Progressor)
➤ "... ANTRISCH manage to fascinate throughout even in the long version ... the band manages to implement the hopeless and icy flair of the underlying theme very impressively ... actually, you can't even imagine what it must be like to be trapped in the ice and waiting for death, but here the various emotional worlds that come to light in such a situation have been processed into a successful work."
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "The melodies make use of a slight doom inspiration to create a rather terrifying atmosphere, striking a balance between repetition and more direct songwriting. And the production leaves room for all the instruments to flourish. But I'd be lying if I said the element that draws the most attention is the vocals ... it's a little hard to praise the performances of the instrumentalists when the vocals draw so much attention, but the mix of both helps bring the concept to life ... while the expedition in the story doesn't seem to have been a pleasant success for those involved, the album around it certainly is."
(Metal Storm)
➤ "... unconditional ... razor-sharp riffing ... cold, melodic and stirring ... can definitely match, if not surpass, the quality of the previous EP ... coherent, dense atmosphere ... lyrical depth ... eloquent and vocal performance ... a squeaky clean, modern production ... for me, a total work of art ..."
(Dark Art)
➤ "… aggressive … atmospheric … great album …"
(El Canal Riffero)
➤ "… masterfully … one of the best achieved albums of the year."
(Barraca 26)
➤ "... Black Metal with Doom and Dark Ambient ... an oppressive soundscape with a dense atmosphere ... melodic, varied and sophisticated ... the vocals come across as both jangly and clearly spoken and are in all respects as captivating as they are engaging ... a maelstrom that is hard to escape ... it's worth it!"
(Amboss)
➤ "... top-notch, atmospheric Black Metal ... the band knows how to dose and evoke moods wonderfully ... the style is very raw and classic, but Antrisch knows how to slow down the tempo (considerably), show up melodically and throw in two-three gimmicks to give it some much-needed variety ... very good record from a band that strays far enough from their basic material that you feel like sharing a floating board with them ..."
(Adopte Un Disque)
➤ "There are so many brilliant aspects about 'Expedition II : Die Passage', be it the tight and intricate song structures, the really stunning ability to create almost visual atmospheres and soundscapes with various sound effects and experiments, the masterfully layered elements that create intensity, complementing the harsh Black Metal aggression with the gloomy Doom vibes ..., or the excellent lyrics and their vocal delivery. It all boils down to the band's overall compositional skills that bless us with an album of emotional complexity and intensity."
(The Wycked Lady)
➤ "If you like atmospheric Black Metal capable of transporting you to another world, you have to listen to this release, we are sure it will not disappoint you."
(Riff Valley)
➤ "I don't know how many records you buy a year, but missing out on this one would be a mistake: ANTRISCH's 'Expedition II: Die Passage' is an out-of-the-ordinary work, as rare and priceless as those that made the history of all Heavy Metal, not just Black."
(Metal Skunk)
➤ "… really well crafted atmospheric Black Metal … completely blew me away … any song from this album is deserving of a spot here … already the opener 'Festgefroren - Packeisfalle' gives you a glimpse of what ANTRISCH does well … not sure where to begin describing how impressed I am with this great song …"
(Wanna Hear a Great Song Today?)
➤ "... gritty, detailed compositions ... imposing wall of sound ... expressive vocals ...."
(Darker Magazine)
➤ "... freaking good just like 'Expedition I' ... sad and terrifying at the same time … definitely recommended to fans of Atmospheric Black Metal …"
(Dissecting The Euphony)
➤ "This album is confirmation that we are dealing with a band worthy of attention, capable of writing and playing excellent music, able to stand out within a very crowded genre. Wishing them to continue on this path, I can again place ANTRISCH among the best listens of the year."
(The Murder Inn)
5 / 5
➤ "The extreme and unforgiving landscape is captured perfectly, whilst capturing a wide range of complex, adrenaline fueled and fear driven emotions … you are left with a constant chill down your spine, as it feels like the band gave carved out the grim, isolated and chilling atmosphere out of a glacier … distinctly unique … carefully calculated and executed perfectly … stunning debut …"
(Fjordhammer)
5 / 5
➤ "… really well thought out down to the smallest details … extremely well recorded … one of the best releases of the year … a fantastic debut EP … majestic grandeur, icy depths and amazing heights …"
(RavenRockSite)
9,5 / 10
➤ "… an EP that does the job … nothing short of spectacular … excellent from beginning to end … one of the best works I have heard this year …"
(Metal Pedia)
9,5 / 10
➤ "... undoubtedly an extraordinary EP … I also love the themes that the band handles … a superb and fascinating work … the lyrics are in German, which gives it an exotic touch …"
(RessMetal)
90 / 100
➤ "… very good production where we find the most notable and remarkable styles of Black Metal and in the style of Djent, with an excellent Doom / Atmospheric Metal setting … excellent musical structure … explosive rhythms …"
(Darkzen Dragon)
9 / 10
➤ "… that's what was missing … melodic and atmospheric … with a very noticeable fury … has all the conditions to pass the priority for the quality it shows."
(World Of Metal)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… extremely powerful without being compressed ... the songwriting itself is extremely impressive; that experienced musicians are at work here is unmistakable ... gives you the feeling of hanging several thousand meters high in a wall and gathering strength for the next move ... the outbursts that the changes into the faster regions then create are extremely well designed …"
(Black Salvation)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… one mighty strong debut … brutal, cold and harsh yet atmospheric Black Metal … vocals are really good …"
(North From Northern)
8,5 / 10
➤ "… set the bar high from the start ... like lightning ... brute EP …"
(Undergrounded DE)
12 / 15
➤ "... decidedly varied ... the Windir guitars on 'Gipfelfieber' are to die for ..."
(Folk Metal AT)
8 / 10
➤ "… great amount of melody … very powerful … great …"
(Occult Black Metal Zine)
8 / 10
➤ "… everything done right ... a strong debut ... versatility ... flair for metallic storytelling …"
(Soundmagnet)
8 / 10
➤ "… sounds aggressive and full of energy in some moments, on other is grandiose and on some parts is introspective and dense, but it sounds really great in every moment … the musical work of the band is really very good … a fine revelation of the German Black Metal scene …"
(Metal Temple)
7 / 10
➤ "... high level of recognition ... surprises towards the end with an excellent homage to the snivelling singing guitar sound of Windir ... delivers numerous delightful ideas ..."
(Metal DE)
Recommendation
➤ "... great dramaturgy ... melodic, frenetic, varied and sophisticated ... in all respects as rousing as engaging ... very independent mini-album, whose pull you can not easily escape once you have immersed yourself in the world of ANTRISCH ... strong sign ..."
(Amboss)
➤ "... impressive ... look far beyond ... hard phrased ... clashing cold ... I feel reminded of bands Helrunar, Árstíðir Lífsins, Nagelfar or Helheim, even if one has to attest Antrisch an independent sound ..."
(Crossfire Metal)
➤ "… glittering, star-like ambience … explodes in blistering percussive blasts, frantically flickering guitars, and vicious, scorching screams, as well as booming bass, jolting chords, bell-like reverberations, and panoramic melodies … the music’s morphing movements are captivating, channeling a changing array of dark and devastating moods quite powerfully."
(No Clean Singing)
➤ "... no greenhorns ... dynamic songwriting ... a pleasingly good, varied and poisonous entry into the mountain massif of Metal."
(Vampster)
➤ "… fine Melodic Black Metal … with the great harmony of the growls, the riffs and fantastic blastbeats, the album flows from the beginning to the end … definitely work well live as ‘headbanger’ pieces … an EP that any BM fan will enjoy … a must-have …"
(Tempelores)
➤ "… pretty nice atmospheric Black Metal with a very nice sound and creating an atmosphere through interesting themes and melodies, rather than just arranging sugar chords indefinitely … ANTRISCH play very well and have impressively diverse compositions which, in turn, have one unified identity and sensibility."
(Cveće Zla)
➤ "... scary atmosphere ... an impressive, atmospheric, and also eerie work ..."
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)
➤ "… atmospheric … dramatic … melodic … icy breezes of Black Metal penetrating to the bone, sweeping into a rough and dreamlike imagination … creepy …"
(Fémforgács)
➤ "… fascinating iconography … excellent atmoblack … persuasive delicacy … capable of raising the bar of a genre nowadays … destined for a quick reissue on label …"
(SpazioRock)
➤ "Holy shit what a record! … really a lot of stuff … beautiful … pure black art … spectacular … I recommend highly …"
(Metal Skunk)
➤ "… an excellent group that catches my attention within a few seconds …"
(Groundcast)
➤ "... shattering, relentless, face-shredding brutality ... aggressive riffs dominate the album, with the drumming as pounding as can be ... the strength of this EP is the inexhaustible lead guitar work that stirs up some unforgettable playing ... a touch of Post Rock mixed with Blackgaze that makes me smile happily ..."
(Dissecting The Euphony)
➤ "Dark and mysterious ... sustained double bass bombardment ... the vocals are ... informative, angry and yet somehow empathetic ... very accomplished debut EP."
(BlattTurbo)
➤ "Nagelfar and Naglfar together … uplifting … consistently high … versatile … talented …"
(ZwareMetalen)
➤ "The German Black Metal underground must be a magical place ... a variety of situations and emotions atypical of classic Black Metal ... well-characterized tracks ... atmospheric ... melodic ... hypnotic ... ANTRISCH are a constantly changing ice storm that will satisfy all those who are not afraid to follow those who do not walk on paths already trodden ... personally I found echoes of Satyricon from the good old days and even compatriots Dark Fortress ... with this debut they already show that they have very good skills ..."
(The Murder Inn)
p>
Issue #5 Winner
➤ "… some exquisite melodic touches that remain in memory … it is clear that the band members have dedicated a lot of thought and effort to this … everything is on point … high-quality material … an absolute success and leaves us with great expectations for the next one …"
(Metal Storm • Clandestine Cut Of The Year - Awards 2021)
[ Emblem: Dantas Inferno ]
Action: | ANTRISCH |
Title: | EXPEDITION II : Die Passage |
Base: | Würzburg • Germany |
Style: | Atmospheric Black Metal |
Genre: | Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal |
FFO: | Nagelfar, Helrunar, Eïs |
Type: | Full-length |
Format: | CD + Vinyl + Cassette |
Label: | Independent |
Release: | April 7ᵗʰ, 2023 |
Framed by the historical events of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition in search for the last uncharted parts of the Northwest Passage, this concept album deals with some of the rarely recorded eerie incidents that took place in the Canadian Arctic more than 170 years ago.
Musically "Die Passage" continues ANTRISCH's musical vision of oppressive soundscapes, dense atmosphere and aggressive, keen edge guitars without mere repetition.
The vocals range from harsh screaming to narrative snarl, creating the perfect counterpart to the sonic Arctic gale permanently careening from emotional discomfort to paroxysms of grief when being desperately icebound …
Vocalist Maurice Wilson illuminates the thematically compelling background of "Stirnschlag" as follows:
"The song title is a neologism, composed of 'rockfall' and 'cerebral apoplexy' ... the subtitle of the song is 'snow line' ... in the narrative sequence, in the story presented, this is the moment when the protagonist breaks away from the rope team, and sets off on his own to the summit, where for the first time the raw forces of nature are expressed more clearly in the sense of a real threat to life ... especially the song finale is also under the sign of physical emaciation and superhuman effort ... the protagonist dies at the end of the song ... due to a head injury suffered in a rock fall, his perception increases to delusions and impressions of nature, literary fragments, mythological parables are mixed ..."
ANTRISCH cultivates in a highly original and independent way an exquisite mixture of different styles of Black Metal, skillfully mixed with parts of Doom, Djent and Dark Ambient.
The group name ANTRISCH is inspired by the world-famous South Tyrolean mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner, who published the dialectical term 'antric light' - which stands for 'strange, secretly, uncanny' and simply fits perfectly to the atmospheric music of the Würzburg hopefuls.
Triumph on the stormy peak
In addition, the outer world is also thematized in an equally sophisticated and no less gripping way, whereby the profound formation essentially deals with the vast landscapes and the captivating forces of nature, which have been experienced in the most extreme way by some daredevils through past, historical expeditions to the most extreme landscapes of the world.
45° 49′ 57″ N, 6° 51′ 52″ O
On April 8, 2021 the intrepid visionaries around guitarist and main composer Robert Falcon Scott rope all inclined listeners along to experience a musical and lyrical expedition to the heights of the world and the depths of man with the sensational debut EP "EXPEDITION I : Dissonanzgrat":
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