Penance - Dawn Of A New (sav)Age
We’ve featured Penance before, and hold them in great regard as they were the first EVER band to send us a CD to be reviewed – up until then we’d only had downloads sent through…ahh the early days! As such, when George put us onto their spanking new album, Dawn Of A New sav(Age), I was really looking forward to checking things out. Hitting play and settling down to have a listen, I marvelled at all of the tracks, writing down my thoughts and looking forward to sharing them with the world – and then I somehow forgot to save the work I’d done and lost it….stupid Dave.
Anyhow, I digress…luckily, this was soon noticed and as such, I set about listening to the album again, noting down my thoughts and looking forward to sharing them with the world, ensuring this time that I saved it along the way! Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, a little later than planned, I present you with Penance and Dawn Of A New sav(Age).
Kicking into being with Broken Night we’re led slowly into things, an atmospheric opening leading the way into things and building the anticipation. Despite the softness on offer here, there’s a real sense of darkness from the word go, suggesting at heaviness without allowing it to break through, keeping you on the edge and waiting to hear what’s coming – and then it breaks. Kicking into a distorted melee of hammering guitars, news report snippets and bass heavy backing rhythms, the heavy break signals the beginning of what is to come, and suggests that it’s going to most good, most good indeed!
Acting as a leading into the opening of Great Human Disgrace things only get heavier from here on, launching into roaring vocals, chunky guitar lines and rolling double bass, it’s a hell of a sound and one which demonstrates just how much work the guys have put into this record. Give it a listen and you too will be chanting ‘two wrongs make a right’, banding your head along with the band and wanting get down to see them live. It’s striking just how powerful they’ve managed to get things to sound here, the guitar sound is immense throughout, and when combined with the thundering bass and rolling drums results in a wall of sound that’s going to demolish anyone or anything that tries to get in its way. Even going so far as to chuck in a blistering guitar solo, this track has it all, and suggests that this is a whole new unit we’re dealing with here in Penance. The same can be said for Needles, Dogs and Dead Bodies, continuing the raucous rampage through the album whilst adding in a sense of early 2000’s style riffery. Chunky, in your face and not holding anything back, the power unleashed on this track only serves to fuel the suggestion that these guys are going to be a band to check out live to fully appreciate, this would slay on the live scene for sure.
These Memories brings about a change in the order of things, chilling things down a notch and slowing the tempo for a moment. Soft guitars lead the way as the track gets going, offering up a serious dose of melody whilst at the same time, still managing to keep a real sense of haunting darkness running behind the scenes. Soft and melodic vocals work with the flange tinged guitar work, resulting in a track which is atmospheric, dark and verging on the progressive side of things. Building to the conclusion of the track of gun shots, screaming and a general sense of panic, the calm intermission soon gives way to Lone Wolf, opening with a gun shot before once again we’re returned to the chunkiness that got things going earlier on in the album. Once again showing the diversity that these guys have got in their arsenal, this track almost verges on the death metal side of the spectrum, mixing it with the atmospheric approach to end up with something complex, something which pushes the boundaries of the record, and something which once again shows just how much work has gone into this record – a moment to check out for sure.
Moving onto Envy The Dead we reach my personal favourite track off of the album, a track which opens with soft guitar work before launching us face first into a pit of all out devastation and power. Heavy, raw and the sort of thing that your parents warned you about, this is a track which secures Penance a slot alongside the heavyweights of the metal world, showing off their signature heavy sound and mixing it with a sense of groove orientated, bass heavy rhythm. Shifting between soft and hard throughout, I love the journey that this track takes you on, once again demonstrating that we’re not dealing with a one trick pony by any means.
Working through the lead in track that is Prelude Of The Damned, we’re once again given a brief reprieve from the all out power and a moment to reflect, soft piano lines easing all of the aches and pains away and giving you a chance to breathe. Building from the piano to an almighty crescendo, this track may serve as a prelude track but man, it still packs a punch. After once again chilling out for the closing moments, it’s somewhat of a shock when we’re once again launched into a pit of all out distortion in the form of Anthem Of The Damned. Hammering into an all out mix of fast paced guitar work, spat roaring vocals and rolling double bass, the bass heavy mix which leads you through this track should be enough to convince you once and for all that this is a band you need to be paying some serious attention to, it’s quite simply an anthem in the waiting, and another track which is going to have to be seen live to be believed.
Working through penultimate track Penance we’re soon led to the end of the record in the form of New Dawn, closing with a track that oozes classic, and brings the album full circle. Far more raw at times than some of the other tracks on this album, the closing moments here leave things as they began whilst managing to suggest that what is going to follow this is going to be pretty damned awesome. Raw guitars, powerful bass lines, hammering drums and those awesome roars, this final track has it all and closes the album in style – but did we expect anything less?
I’m fully aware that I’ve written way more than I normally write for reviews, but in the case of this album from Penance I had a lot to say! I’ve listened to this album 5 or 6 times since we first got it, and am still blown away by just how massive a sound the guys have managed to achieve. From start to finish this is an album which is powerful, in your face, raw and insanely well put together. Penance are here, and you need to pay them some attention.
To find out more about Penance, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Anyhow, I digress…luckily, this was soon noticed and as such, I set about listening to the album again, noting down my thoughts and looking forward to sharing them with the world, ensuring this time that I saved it along the way! Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, a little later than planned, I present you with Penance and Dawn Of A New sav(Age).
Kicking into being with Broken Night we’re led slowly into things, an atmospheric opening leading the way into things and building the anticipation. Despite the softness on offer here, there’s a real sense of darkness from the word go, suggesting at heaviness without allowing it to break through, keeping you on the edge and waiting to hear what’s coming – and then it breaks. Kicking into a distorted melee of hammering guitars, news report snippets and bass heavy backing rhythms, the heavy break signals the beginning of what is to come, and suggests that it’s going to most good, most good indeed!
Acting as a leading into the opening of Great Human Disgrace things only get heavier from here on, launching into roaring vocals, chunky guitar lines and rolling double bass, it’s a hell of a sound and one which demonstrates just how much work the guys have put into this record. Give it a listen and you too will be chanting ‘two wrongs make a right’, banding your head along with the band and wanting get down to see them live. It’s striking just how powerful they’ve managed to get things to sound here, the guitar sound is immense throughout, and when combined with the thundering bass and rolling drums results in a wall of sound that’s going to demolish anyone or anything that tries to get in its way. Even going so far as to chuck in a blistering guitar solo, this track has it all, and suggests that this is a whole new unit we’re dealing with here in Penance. The same can be said for Needles, Dogs and Dead Bodies, continuing the raucous rampage through the album whilst adding in a sense of early 2000’s style riffery. Chunky, in your face and not holding anything back, the power unleashed on this track only serves to fuel the suggestion that these guys are going to be a band to check out live to fully appreciate, this would slay on the live scene for sure.
These Memories brings about a change in the order of things, chilling things down a notch and slowing the tempo for a moment. Soft guitars lead the way as the track gets going, offering up a serious dose of melody whilst at the same time, still managing to keep a real sense of haunting darkness running behind the scenes. Soft and melodic vocals work with the flange tinged guitar work, resulting in a track which is atmospheric, dark and verging on the progressive side of things. Building to the conclusion of the track of gun shots, screaming and a general sense of panic, the calm intermission soon gives way to Lone Wolf, opening with a gun shot before once again we’re returned to the chunkiness that got things going earlier on in the album. Once again showing the diversity that these guys have got in their arsenal, this track almost verges on the death metal side of the spectrum, mixing it with the atmospheric approach to end up with something complex, something which pushes the boundaries of the record, and something which once again shows just how much work has gone into this record – a moment to check out for sure.
Moving onto Envy The Dead we reach my personal favourite track off of the album, a track which opens with soft guitar work before launching us face first into a pit of all out devastation and power. Heavy, raw and the sort of thing that your parents warned you about, this is a track which secures Penance a slot alongside the heavyweights of the metal world, showing off their signature heavy sound and mixing it with a sense of groove orientated, bass heavy rhythm. Shifting between soft and hard throughout, I love the journey that this track takes you on, once again demonstrating that we’re not dealing with a one trick pony by any means.
Working through the lead in track that is Prelude Of The Damned, we’re once again given a brief reprieve from the all out power and a moment to reflect, soft piano lines easing all of the aches and pains away and giving you a chance to breathe. Building from the piano to an almighty crescendo, this track may serve as a prelude track but man, it still packs a punch. After once again chilling out for the closing moments, it’s somewhat of a shock when we’re once again launched into a pit of all out distortion in the form of Anthem Of The Damned. Hammering into an all out mix of fast paced guitar work, spat roaring vocals and rolling double bass, the bass heavy mix which leads you through this track should be enough to convince you once and for all that this is a band you need to be paying some serious attention to, it’s quite simply an anthem in the waiting, and another track which is going to have to be seen live to be believed.
Working through penultimate track Penance we’re soon led to the end of the record in the form of New Dawn, closing with a track that oozes classic, and brings the album full circle. Far more raw at times than some of the other tracks on this album, the closing moments here leave things as they began whilst managing to suggest that what is going to follow this is going to be pretty damned awesome. Raw guitars, powerful bass lines, hammering drums and those awesome roars, this final track has it all and closes the album in style – but did we expect anything less?
I’m fully aware that I’ve written way more than I normally write for reviews, but in the case of this album from Penance I had a lot to say! I’ve listened to this album 5 or 6 times since we first got it, and am still blown away by just how massive a sound the guys have managed to achieve. From start to finish this is an album which is powerful, in your face, raw and insanely well put together. Penance are here, and you need to pay them some attention.
To find out more about Penance, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Penance - Last Rites
Penance were good enough to pop a copy of their album ‘Last
Rites’ in the post for me to have a listen to. Now it should be said that I
love a hard copy of an album or an EP, there’s nothing quite like opening that
CD case, popping the disc into the player and sitting back to the sound of it
playing. The artwork on the liner notes as well is always something special to
have, hence why my CD collection is so massive.
Opening with strange fair ground noises over dubbed by effect laden vocals slowed down to mimic a voice from below, the album opens in what can only be described as a scary manner. I’ve never been a fan of fairs or circuses so I felt an ominous sense building as Funfair came into being. Opening heavy from these sounds, the drums and guitars take on the lead and push the album into being.
Distorted tracks lead from one to another as the album progresses, different layers of vocals are brought in as well which adds in a definite contrast across the tracks – sometimes roaring and other times keeping them clean and almost Type O Negative like.
Mad Messiah speeds things up once again but in an almost catchy manner, after a few listens I found myself chanting along with the band on numerous occasions. Garden of Evil is another point on the album which made me sit up and listen, the vocals taking on a Pete Steele-esque echoey darkness meaning the already heavy track takes on an almost gothic edge, becoming very dark indeed. Combined with the piano intro, this track is a departure from the heavier tracks at first but soon takes on the darky distorted approach once again as the track progresses.
Moving into Eternal Curse though you’re reminded of what the band was all about as this album began, heavy, fast, rolling drums and distorted guitars all fronted by some roaring vocals.
The high point for me of this album though has to be Last Rites, the final track on the album. The second longest track on the album at 8.35, this track takes all of the elements which the Penance have featured across the album so far and combine them into one full on track. Opening as it means to go on, this final assault of the ear drums will leave you sitting back wondering what the hell just happened.
In all, this album features some interesting contrasts from track to track, the roaring vocals contrasting with the cleaner ones, using pianos and violins to add in a darker gothic edge, rolling drums and chuncky guitar riffs – all of these things really throw this album in your face. There are times when I’m not sure the different vocal contrasts work as well as I’d hope, but this is something I’m sure will get sorted over time. What’s more, I imagine their true power is revealed on a live platform where they are not constrained by the confines of a studio.
To find out more about Penance, check out their Facebook page HERE. Also, make sure you check out their video below!
Opening with strange fair ground noises over dubbed by effect laden vocals slowed down to mimic a voice from below, the album opens in what can only be described as a scary manner. I’ve never been a fan of fairs or circuses so I felt an ominous sense building as Funfair came into being. Opening heavy from these sounds, the drums and guitars take on the lead and push the album into being.
Distorted tracks lead from one to another as the album progresses, different layers of vocals are brought in as well which adds in a definite contrast across the tracks – sometimes roaring and other times keeping them clean and almost Type O Negative like.
Mad Messiah speeds things up once again but in an almost catchy manner, after a few listens I found myself chanting along with the band on numerous occasions. Garden of Evil is another point on the album which made me sit up and listen, the vocals taking on a Pete Steele-esque echoey darkness meaning the already heavy track takes on an almost gothic edge, becoming very dark indeed. Combined with the piano intro, this track is a departure from the heavier tracks at first but soon takes on the darky distorted approach once again as the track progresses.
Moving into Eternal Curse though you’re reminded of what the band was all about as this album began, heavy, fast, rolling drums and distorted guitars all fronted by some roaring vocals.
The high point for me of this album though has to be Last Rites, the final track on the album. The second longest track on the album at 8.35, this track takes all of the elements which the Penance have featured across the album so far and combine them into one full on track. Opening as it means to go on, this final assault of the ear drums will leave you sitting back wondering what the hell just happened.
In all, this album features some interesting contrasts from track to track, the roaring vocals contrasting with the cleaner ones, using pianos and violins to add in a darker gothic edge, rolling drums and chuncky guitar riffs – all of these things really throw this album in your face. There are times when I’m not sure the different vocal contrasts work as well as I’d hope, but this is something I’m sure will get sorted over time. What’s more, I imagine their true power is revealed on a live platform where they are not constrained by the confines of a studio.
To find out more about Penance, check out their Facebook page HERE. Also, make sure you check out their video below!