Welcome back my fellow black metal fanatics, to the Black Metal Archives! I’m Sean, and today, we’re diving into a band that’s making waves of the vicious space in the underground scene—Want of Sin. First off, I would like to mention, their singer, Bliss, is a dear part of the Black Metal Archives family, so it is extremely fitting that a review of their latest single, Baptism, becomes enshrined on the Black Metal Archives blog, because it is a relentless display of blackened fury, and we’re going to dissect its sound, its instrumentation, and how it stands within the modern black metal landscape. Let’s dive into this hell pit!
From the opening moments of Baptism, you’re immediately pulled into a swirling maelstrom of bleak, blood soaked atmosphere. The production is raw yet balanced—gritty enough to maintain an old-school black metal aesthetic but clear enough to let the instrumentation breathe. Want of Sin embraces a dense, layered sound, influenced with post-rock and shoegaze, where tremolo-picked riffs create a wall of melody and dissonance, perfectly complemented by a thunderous rhythm section. There’s a strong sense of urgency and despair throughout the track, making it an immersive listen from start to finish.
Let’s talk about the individual components that make Baptism such a devastating track. The guitars are the backbone of this piece, delivering razor-sharp tremolo picking, haunting chord progressions, and well-placed dissonant moments that add depth to the song’s atmosphere. There’s a push-and-pull between melody and sheer aggression, giving the track a dynamic, ever-shifting energy.
The drumming is relentless—blast beats dominate the landscape, punctuated by sudden, forceful shifts in tempo that prevent the song from ever feeling stagnant. The transitions between furious onslaughts and slower, doom-laden sections show a clear understanding of pacing, allowing the listener to experience the full weight of the track’s emotional intensity.
Vocally, Baptism is a visceral experience. The tortured, rasping screams cut through the mix like a blade, drenched in agony and raw power. The vocalist doesn’t just deliver the lyrics—she embodies them, making every word feel like a curse being cast from the depths of suffering. The reverb-soaked delivery adds to the ethereal, otherworldly quality that’s a hallmark of great black metal vocal performances.
In a genre that constantly grapples with tradition versus evolution, Want of Sin manages to walk that fine line with Baptism. The influence of second-wave black metal legends is clear—there are shades of classic Darkthrone and Gorgoroth in the relentless riffing and raw aggression. But at the same time, there’s an undeniable modern edge, pulling in elements reminiscent of contemporary acts like Melencolia Estatica, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, or Dreariness.
What sets them apart is their ability to blend aggression with atmosphere seamlessly. Many bands lean too far into one side or the other, but Want of Sin keeps the scales balanced, ensuring that Baptism is both emotionally gripping and sonically punishing. Their ability to craft immersive soundscapes while maintaining an unforgiving level of intensity makes them a band to watch in today’s black metal underground.
Baptism is a storm—a brutal, haunting, and cathartic piece that solidifies Want of Sin as a force in the underground black metal scene. If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and listen to this track which is available on their bandcamp page. Let the waves of darkness consume you, and let us know in the comments what you think of Want of Sin’s latest offering. Be on the look out for the full album, Hydrophobic, dropping soon on February 7, 2025!
If you enjoyed this breakdown of Want of Sin’s Baptism, be sure to like this review to stay updated for more deep dives into the blackened abyss, or you can follow us all of our social media pages, and even join us on Patreon!
Until next time, hail the underground!
