Antrisch – EXPEDITION II: Die Passage [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

Back in April—practically a lifetime ago—I interviewed Noise of Kanonenfieber, Leiþa and Non Est Deus fame. Ever the professional, I shamelessly used it as an opportunity to fish for album recommendations for my own enjoyment. In my defense, I did at least deign to share some of them with you ungrateful swine. Unsurprisingly, all of Noise’s recommendations were solid but there was one that really got its frozen claws into me, Würzburg, Germany’s Antrisch and their second record, EXPEDITION II: Die Passage. From the moment I saw that cover, which instantly and, quite intentionally, recalls the BBC’s The Terror, I was intrigued. For those who haven’t seen The Terror, set in the 1840s, it is the tale of the crews of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, when their ships become trapped for years in the Arctic pack ice. As the crews descend into starvation, sickness, and madness, pursued by a half-seen horror, let’s just say it doesn’t end well. Could Antrisch possibly capture that sense of stalking dread on Die Passage?

Long story short: Hell. Yes. I’ve listened to a lot of amtoblack this year and I simply haven’t heard another record that does the “atmo” part of that as well as Die Passage. From the samples of creaking wood and gently lapping waves on opener “I FESTGEFROREN – Packeisfalle,” through little touches like the sonar pings (“II WAHNRATIONEN – Saturnusparusie”), and the gorgeous synths and keys that pepper the album, to the snarling spoken word passages (see “IIIII EXODUS | TUNDRATAUMEL – Croziers Bürde,” for example¹), Antrisch hold me spellbound. The quartet displays a touch for the darkly theatrical that reminds me of Kanonenfieber or 1914. Unlike many contemporaries operating in the atmoblack space, they do not simply generate atmosphere; they are capable of evoking a very specific atmosphere and capturing the premise of the album: despair, loneliness, and creeping terror, all bound up in icy desolation (“IIII VLTIMA RATIO – Antropophager Frühling”).

Of course, that storytelling skill would count for little if Antrisch couldn’t write a riff. And, of course, were that the case, I probably wouldn’t be writing this piece. Recalling the likes of Afsky and Mysþryming, Die Passage ranges from tension-filled dynamics, with shimmering leads and hoar frost-coated tremolos from guitarist Robert Klein (going by the name Robert Falcon Scott²), to all out, furious black metal tumults worthy of Spectral Wound. The rasping, shrieking, crooning delivery of vocalist Christian Wolf (appearing as British solider and ill-fated explorer Maurice Wilson) elevates Die Passage still further, At times sounding genuinely tortured, at others possessed, his voice is the icy fingers squeezing all hope and warmth out of your heart. Drummer Daniel Bieberstein (as Игорь Дятлов) shifts between blasts, progressive fills and percussive impacts (“III IN PERPETUUM – Ewiger Schlaf im Ewigen Eis”), driving the record along.

Interestingly, given Wolf’s sheer power behind the mic, Antrisch decided to close Die Passage with an instrumental on “IIIIII 68° 15′ N 98° 45′ W – 68° 54′ N 98° 56′ W,” and it’s a masterpiece. Brimming with an almost frenzied energy in places, while in others slowing to a defeated crawl, the track encapsulates the rest of the record, bringing together the hopelessness, madness and sadness that is felt elsewhere. Skilfully written and running to just 38 minutes, Die Passage avoids the overindulgent tropes of many atmospheric black metal records. It helps that it is very well produced. The guitars have a searing tone to them, which cuts through like a howling Arctic wind, while the drums slam into you with the force of calving icebergs. Wolf’s vocals are quite far forward in the mix but, given their quality and the integral part they play in Antrisch’s sound, they work just fine. For anyone who heard and enjoyed 2021’s EXPEDITION I: Dissonanzgrat, with EXPEDITION II: Dis Passage, Antrisch has delivered an even stronger record that, for me, ranks among the best atmoblack of the year. As far as I can tell, Antrisch are also currently unsigned, a state of affairs that I predict will not last long.

Tracks to Check Out: “I FESTGEFROREN – Packeisfalle,” “IIII VLTIMA RATIO – Antropophager Frühling” and “IIIIII 68° 15′ N 98° 45′ W – 68° 54′ N 98° 56′ W.”