What better time to bask in darkness, to snuff out the daylight and exist in the shadows where our sorrows exist and where some of us actually find a semblance of solace not having to face reality for a while? At the same time, having music that also can beckon and even soothe our wounds can be a game changer, knowing we’re not alone in the abyss.
The return of Vancouver’s orchestral doom power Tribunal is a fitting one, even at the gates of spring and new life. Their excellent second record “In Penitence and Ruin” is a tour-de-force, an example of a promising band blooming into full beast and exploding from every seam with gothic majesty. This time around, Tribunal are a full unit with original members Soren Mourne (vocals, bass, cello) and Etienne Flinn (vocals, guitar) joined by guitarist Jessica Yang, keyboard player Dallas Alice, and drummer Julia Geaman to form a mightier fist. This record is a concept piece that follows a guilty human who cannot escape the wrong they’ve done and must psychologically weigh the realities of punishment. The music is heavy, doomy, arresting, and gorgeous, a piece that grows more infectious with each listen. My vinyl copy arrived today, and it hasn’t left the turntable in my office all day. I imagine that won’t change for a while.
“Incarnadine” starts with elegant strings and Mourne’s calling, “I am drowning in tides of guilt,” before Flinn’s shrieks join and bloody faces. The singing and harsh wails intertwine here, as they do often throughout this record, and gothy fury is unleashed, the playing spreading and grows more dramatic, and massive emotion welling as the playing fades. “A Wound Unhealing” starts similarly, Mourne’s voice gripping you fully before the guttural vocals set in, a spellbinding display that arrests you heart and mind. “Heal these wounds that time forgot,” Mourne pleads, the guitars electrifying their surroundings, and mournful playing mounts fierce defiance, the strings thickening and slipping into the darkness. “Angel of Mercy” pounds as the growls corrode, the strings elevate the tension, and colors manifest as the hammers strike. The atmosphere thickens as the singing grips and the growls curdle, heading off into a sweetening mist. “The Sword of the Slain” starts with Flinn’s voice sending bruising waves as Mourne smooths the pathway, guitars swim, and the tempo picks up. The doomy waters pound the shore, growls snarling as the temperatures rise, immersive tributaries leading you to a breath-robbing finish. “Ruin” is a brief, chamber-rich instrumental built with solemn strings and keys, the perfect breather at the halfway point.
“The Penitent” slowly forms, Mourne’s singing awakening as she reaches for the stars, guitars meandering into an ashen aura, growls settling sharply. Leads heat up and melt, Mourne demanding, “Bite my hand and curse my name,” as everything burns off. “Armoured in Shadow” has guitars beaming, the dual vocals pushing and pulling through the cold, Mourne calling, “I will never trust again, I will never heal,” a sentiment that returns throughout. Growls lather as the daylight retreats, ending everything in grim fashion. “…And The Thorn-Choked Flowers Grow” starts with growls gutting, a vicious darkness enveloping, and Morne following up and adding a sense of gothic beauty to the sorrow. The vocals duel from here, a morose, yet melodic pathway beaten out in front of you, ashes burnt into each step. Closer “Between the Sea and Stars” has drums awakening, strings and keys glimmering, Mourne calling, “The distance cannot make this right,” a sentiment you feel in your bones. Howls scar as the guitars are submerged in tears, a flushing feel working into tornadic visions, strings aching as they gently fade.
“In Penitence and Ruin” is Tribunal at their fullest force, at least so far, and it’s bound to be their breakthrough record based on its power and depth. Having a full lineup surely gives the music more depth and personality, and its heaviness and arresting beauty makes these songs hit even harder, the record staying with you long after it ends. This is a grander scale and vision for Tribunal, and this record is likely to cement them into a spot as one of doom’s most promising newer voices that you cannot ignore.
For more on the band, go here: https://tribunaldoom.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://www.20buckspin.com/tribunal
For more on the label, go here: https://www.20buckspin.com/
Meat Mead Metal 