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Released on April 15, 2016 via Halo of Flies
Ancst are a full bodied assault of blackened hardcore and crust, standing out as a band with a lot to offer as a result of their previous releases. The Berlin based act has produced consistently solid blackened crust material, especially on projects such as In Turmoil; a compilation that bought together demos and EPs cultivating the best examples of their song writing. The pure anguish that fuelled the heavy, pummelling instrumentation and desperation in the vocals created an emotional experience for this genre, never letting up in sonic density throughout. This would be an indication to what the band could offer on a follow up; an impressive split with fellow German black metal dwellers AST. The project felt like a level up for Ancst, remaining to be uncompromisingly raw and weighted in the instrumentation, whilst increasing the intensity on the vocal performance. At this point a weighty discography had developed without a full length, and so the debut effort Moloch came with much anticipation.
Consisting of 10 tracks, this new LP serves as a solid dosage of blackened crust, with hardcore elements present throughout. The band bear their DIY, anti-fascist/sexist/religion badge with honour once again, an ethos that injects the essential ferocity into the band’s sound. Opening tracks ‘Moloch’ and ‘Behold Thy Servants’ act as undeniable examples of Ancst’s ability to blend the driving barbarity of black metal to their own filthy punk and crust formula. Prominent as always with an Ancst release is the utter disparity in the vocals; a factor that truly adds to the weight of the emotional content of these tracks. ‘The Skies of our Infancy’ opens in such a way akin to atmospheric black metal, presenting one of the most melancholic and impassioned performances on the album both instrumentally and vocally. Tracks such as this also highlight the slicker production quality Moloch possesses, in a way alternating their sound to a more exposed state than the raw recordings on previous EPs and demos.
Whilst ‘In Decline’ is a continuation of Moloch’s pace with its tight guitar and drum savagery, ‘Strife’ is where it explores more spacious potential. Grinding the break neck speed down for the track’s opening moments make for a reflective breather; it allows some more bruising riff work and atmosphere in the album’s flow before increasing the knots once again for another assault.
More riff focussed tracks like ‘Turning Point’ and ‘No More Words’ are definitive moments of progression for Ancst in the realm of a full length. The more emotional undertone has mutated into unfiltered rage, resulting in more guttural vocals and downtempo instrumentation that may contain a whiff of death metal influence. Ancst’s more straightforward black metal leanings are in full swing on the closer ‘Lys’, progressing in heaviness and teeth-gnashing aggression before eventually calling cut on the barrage of Moloch.
Ancst are able to channel their powerful ethos into these tracks, with a visceral and battering musical experience as a result. Moloch feels close to the sound the band triumphed on the previous releases, the deviation in the song writing and potential for experimenting is lacking. The band have created a flowing set of tracks that exemplifies what they are and what they stand for with the aid of cleaner production, but I feel this has ever so slightly reduced what gripped me to the demos and EPs in the first place. However, this is a highly solid debut and fine piece within this now saturated genre. Ancst, may it not be here, are set to make much more of a name for themselves in the metal underground and anticipation for their development is unavoidable.
