Ancst - Ghosts of the Timeless Void

By Hera Vidal. With seventeen releases under their belt, Ancst is one of the more prolific bands I have encountered. With their blend of crust, black metal, and political lyricism, this band have been making a statement about

By Hera Vidal.


With seventeen releases under their belt, Ancst is one of the more prolific bands I have encountered. With their blend of crust, black metal, and political lyricism, this band have been making a statement about who they are since their inception. Ghosts of the Timeless Void is no exception to their DIY aesthetic and fast pace, but what caught my attention about this release is how melodic it is. Underneath the layers of hardcore, crust, black metal, and other influences that fully flesh out the album, there is also a stark melody that cannot be missed.

Ghost of the Timeless Void starts off with reverbing guitars and backing synth-like tones that give the listener a moment to brace themselves before the music launches into blast beats and harsh vocals. The music is relentless, but it is very clear that there is a melody line that makes the music not as harsh as it should sound. It allows the album to be seamless, missing no beats as the songs transition. It also gives them room to experiment, whether it is with the spoken vocals at the beginning of “Republic of Hatred” or the atmospheric yet slow pacing of “Dysthymia”. The music is varied, a testament to the expert musicianship the band has. There are also hints of dissonance that seem to blur together – for example, in “Sanctity”, the vocals mesh with the music, allowing the listener to get disconnected for a bit. However, just as quickly, the track is able to pull the listener back into their headspace, and it goes without a hitch.

Another thing about Ghosts that caught my attention was its production value. While my experience with hardcore has been limited, I have not enjoyed what I’ve listened to. However, because of the influences the album has, Ghosts makes the crust and hardcore digestible and accessible. Everything about Ghosts is clean, masterful, and dynamic, conveying layers of experimentation that sound incredibly polished. It’s also an earworm, allowing the music to get stuck in your head as you listen to it again and again. This is definitely an album that can be enjoyed multiple times in one sitting, and it never gets old.

All in all, Ghosts of the Timeless Void is an album filled with hard-hitting music, clean production, and relentless energy. Their experimentation may be something new for old fans of the band, but new listeners will appreciate how focused this album is. The band is truly committed to their sound and aesthetic, reminding us that even the more inexperienced of us can enjoy music as it comes.