REVIEW: Barrens - Corpse Lights

It's been five long years since Swedish post-rock trio BARRENS released their debut album into the world, but it was immediately apparent then that they would come to haunt the scene with their gloomy, atmospheric ambience, and with their upcoming release Corpse Lights on the horizon, that truth is cemented. Corpse lights – alternatively known as will-o'-the-wisps in varying folklores – are believed by some to be a visual representation of the soul leaving the body. BARRENS have taken that tale and applied it in metaphor; through this album, they channel pieces of their collective soul into their music and release it into the world. What we find at the end of this path they lead us on is sheer mental catharsis. Light clashes with dark, space and silence intertwine before heavy brutality overtakes, all in an impressive display of potent compositional dynamics.

Memory Eraser starts us off with an elongated drone that acts as the central line running through the track, the force of gravity that holds it all together. Ambient instrumental parts draw themselves towards it over the course of two and a half minutes, and this sets the scene for what we're about to witness. The Derelict picks up immediately where our opener leaves off, and MARKKU HILDÉN brings us directly into the fray of this emotional battleground with heavy, pounding drumbeats. JOHAN G. WITHER adds a recurring, subtle, guitar riff that haunts our ears, while we're introduced to electronic synth elements from KENTA JANSSON. A winding, instrumental river, the track takes us on as many twists and turns as possible – for one minute, it's an incredibly intense display of drumwork, and for the next, soul-stirring melodies take the spotlight.

Sorrowed is built on an earworm of a riff that becomes increasingly harder to shake from our minds, even when percussion and synth elements are the central focus. Despite being one of the longer tracks on this release with its almost eight minute runtime, the band retains a dynamic progression that keeps us firmly invested until the passionate, frenetic culmination in its final minute. While this one drew us into the darkness, Periastron follows as the antithesis – it can only be described as a beautiful array of light. An ever-rising sun glows bright over a desolate landscape, and we know what it's like to feel hope again.

Apastron leads us with slow, deliberate guitar strums, giving us a short moment for quiet reflection that is much needed in the anticipation of what comes next. Right out the gate, No Light lives up to its name – we're assaulted by a thick slab of sound, surrounding us with a visceral edge that feels raw and bloody. Collapsar, the following track, carries shades of AKIRA YAMAOKA, incredibly reminiscent of his work on the Silent Hill series. There's an element of darkwave that lurks in the peripheral of this piece, while occasional twinkles of percussion shine through the dense fog, all contributing to the emotional turmoil permeating the ambient passages.

The penultimate track Remnants is a much-needed respite, a PHILIP GLASS-esque spectral melody that lurks in quiet minimalism, infused with a meditative gentle sorrow. Both sides of the spectrum exist in BARRENS – sheer, vigorous intensity, and calm serenity. A Nothing Expands is the ultimate climax as the album reaches its end – this is a track that combines various elements throughout this release and blends them into the zenith of it all. The synth-driven elements ring out with their light-in-the-dark tones, and grimy guitar fights the rolling and perpetual beat of drums as we witness the final wisp of the band's collective soul dissipate in the air.

Corpse Lights is an album that has been a long time coming – BARRENS have clearly spent that time honing their talent, and refining their instrumental abilities, because it's extremely evident in this release. They strike a fine balance; each track carries its own, distinct atmosphere, while none feel out of place as part of the whole. Shadows and light are forces constantly at war with one another, and that concept is realised fully through the fluidity of their ambient scores. It may be another long while until BARRENS return, but if the result is anywhere near this level of quality, it will be worth it.

Score: 9/10

Corpse Lights was released on September 12th 2025 via Pelagic Records.

Words: Naomi Colliar Duff

Photos: Barrens