A project from Scotland by way of New Zealand, the members of Barshasketh have been serving the dark lord in various projects over the years, from Falloch to playing live for Thy Darkened Shade. And Barshasketh here presents a fifth album full of dense, verging-on-progressive-but-not-quite black metal that walks a fine line between overwhelming Emperor-esque chaos and more leftfield black/doom wanderings. Although they are multiple albums into their career the band haven't lightened their sound or toned things down; aside from a production job (courtesy of Tore Gunnar Stjerna, the former drummer for, amongst others, Funeral Mist and Ofermod) which allows the bottom end of the Barshasketh sound to resonate properly, this is a dark and very heavy listen. That Emperor comparison holds more fruit the more you listen, the likes of Nitimur in Vetitum having a melodic and almost neoclassical undercurrent similar to the Norwegians, not to mention the epic choral backing vocals dotted through.

It all makes for a listen that's grander than you might have expected, particularly with aspects such as the melodic riffing that dominates the doom-tinged Lebenswelt Below and provides much of the mournful atmosphere, even as you are distracted by technical aspects such as the expert drumming. Highlights come frequently in the album, the mark of expert songwriters in their field, with Charnel Quietism especially majestic in the mid-tracklisting with a slow, ominous build that explodes into crawling chaos. All the tracks here are undeniably epic even as they stomp a hole in your ears, having a rich mixture of sounds throughout whether in quieter, atmospheric moments or in the midst of a balls-out assault. There's a touch of symphonic class to the likes of Radiant Aperture even though the band don't indulge themselves in the overusage of keyboards - everything is considered, judged, balanced.

Highlight come constantly, Phaneron Engulf's uneasy dirge leading into the frenetic action of the title track, which is a definite album peak of several; the sense of melody and interesting use of clean, chanted, female, and even whispered vocals more than carrying it through the seven minute plus length and holding your attention firmly gripped. And finale Exultation of Ceaseless Defiance is especially convincing, bringing the band's sense of grandeur to the fore with clean choral vocals almost immediately whilst the black metal maelstrom rages around. It's a dark blast to the cortex, ending a superb album well. Overall a terrific package that will appeal to many a necronaut, even the cover art a darkly evocative piece that sums up the shamanistic Barshasketh approach; falling into this void is a pleasure.