Gothenburg-based trio BARRENS have returned with “Periastron” a sweeping, atmospheric statement that further cements their place in the darker fringes of post-rock. Released via Pelagic Records, the track is an expansive, synth-driven journey that builds towards a grandiose climax, capturing the essence of the band’s brooding yet luminous aesthetic.
“Periastron” marks a pivotal moment on their forthcoming album corpse lights, serving as the climax of the A-side. “It’s the point closest to the burning core before falling away again,” the band explains. The track evolved through multiple iterations before taking its final form—what the band describes as sui generis—ultimately settling into a place of prominence both structurally and thematically. At its heart, “Periastron” embodies one of the album’s central themes: relationships, and their gravitational push and pull.
The track is accompanied by a visually immersive video from Grammy-nominated video artist Linus Johansson, part of the experimental collective Try New Things. Using album artwork created by BARRENS guitarist Johan G Winther as a foundation, Johansson crafts an eerie, otherworldly experience that weaves together the album’s track titles and overarching themes.
BARRENS emerged in 2020 with their debut Penumbra, a record as reliant on synths as it was on guitars, oscillating between darkness and light in a way that felt both unsettling and cinematic. The album delved into themes of transformation and the interplay between shadows and illumination, a motif that continues to drive their evolution. “Being both lost in darkness, yet finding comfort there. Seeking it. Afloat in blinding light, suspended in darkness,” Winther reflects—words that were etched into the vinyl itself.
Despite their relatively recent formation, BARRENS are no strangers to the post-rock underground. Two of its members—Winther and bassist Kenta Jansson—have long been part of Scraps Of Tape, a staple of Sweden’s experimental music scene for over two decades. The seeds of BARRENS were planted during Scraps Of Tape’s 2018 tours of Europe and China, when drummer Markku Hildén joined them as a live member. “We quickly realised we had very similar ideas regarding music and art,” Jansson recalls. “So the outlines for what BARRENS would become were sketched out in vans, trains, planes, and over post-show beers at local bars.”
The chemistry proved undeniable. By 2019, BARRENS had written and recorded Penumbra between Uppsala and Gothenburg, enlisting Cult of Luna’s Magnus Lindberg for mixing and mastering at Stockholm’s Redmount Studios. The result was a record that seamlessly bridged the grandeur of post-rock with the density of synth-driven soundscapes, earning the band a reputation as one of Sweden’s most compelling experimental acts.
Since then, BARRENS have only gained momentum. They’ve supported genre heavyweights like Mogwai and God Is An Astronaut, signed to Pelagic Records, and opened ArcTanGent’s main stage in 2023. “Periastron” is the latest testament to their steady ascent—a moment of celestial alignment that signals even greater things to come.