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Angry Metal Guy<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tribunal-in-penitence-and-ruin-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tribunal – In Penitence and Ruin Review</a>By Steel DruhmTribunal’s 2023 debut was one of those unheralded albums that came out of nowhere and walloped you with a warhammer, leaving you to collect thoughts and teeth in the aftermath. A brilliant take on Gothic doom, The Weight of Remembrance borrowed much from genre elders like My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Draconian, but somehow managed to feel fresh and fascinating. A true labor of love from Soren Mourne and Etienne Flinn, the album balanced heaviness, beauty, mood, and melody and left you wanting MOAR. Now, after much anticipation, we get more in the form of sophomore outing, In Penitence and Ruin. The dynamic duo have brought on new members to form a complete band, and In Penitence and Ruin is a bigger, more expansive record, moving from their Gothic doom base outward toward Candlemassive-esque epic doom. It’s a grand declaration of intent, but can Tribunal rule yet again?The headline here is that In Penitence lacks some of the sheer heaviness and the sense of dread that made the debut so captivating. In the push to expand their sound, Tribunal sacrificed weight for scope and breadth, bringing them closer to the Draconian school of Goth doom. Opener “Incarnadine” is a beautiful piece of music in line with what they did last time. Piano and understated cello combine with doom riffs, and Soren’s ethereal voice pairs perfectly with Etienne’s death roars and blackened rasps. It’s a gorgeous song with peaks and valleys of emotion, but it’s a bit too light at times, letting the orchestrations overpower the riffs. “A Wound Unhealing” brings back the oppression with a plodding journey that manages to be both theatrical and heavy as fook. Soren kills it with her impassioned vocals that almost reach the operatic stage, and the presence of harpsichord and cello doesn’t disrupt the huge doom riffage that plods all over the lot. This is what I want from Tribunal, and it’s wonderful. “The Sword of the Slain” is another highlight, blending extra blackened elements into the doom stew for a dark and powerful sound. The riffs channel primitive Bathorycore as Soren flies high above and Etienne snarls and roars for all he’s worth. This one is a grim keeper.While the front half of In Penitence is exceptional, the back half is a touch less so. “…and the Thorn-Choked Flowers” is very good, hitting that sweet spot between Draconian and Novembers Doom, and “Amoured in Shadow” is perhaps the most memorable piece present due to big vocal hooks. On the downside, “Penitence” is a nice track, but not as enthralling as its peers. Closer “Between the Sea and Stars” is quite good, even if it sounds more like Seven Spires than Tribunal, but it lacks the heavy doom oomph I crave. At 48:21, In Penitence doesn’t feel overly long, and though not every track is a showstopper, none drag or feel expendable. The top shelf stuff is similar to what we got on the debut, and the few tracks that slip a notch are still good. The downturn in overall heaviness isn’t fatal, and the more expansive soundscape opens up new worlds for them to explore in the future.While Soren’s vocals were often understated on the debut, she’s the beating heartbeat of the Tribunal sound here. She goes all in, too, showcasing her considerable range and power. Her wide-ranging vocals propel the compositions to great heights, sometimes reminding one of Jex Thoth, and at others, Tower’s Sarabeth Linden. If you heard the debut, you’ll be surprised by the force of her delivery. She moves from angelic to mournful to outright badass as the material demands, and she impresses at every turn. Her graceful cello work adds a layer of melancholic class to the proceedings, with it getting in the way of the riffs only occasionally. Etienne impresses playing the rampaging beast to Soren’s beauty, delivering booming death roars and scathing blackened rasps. His guitar work alongside new axe Jessica Yang yields big doom riff energy and enough weepy trilling to sell the despair. They take a minimalist approach to solos, letting the cello fill in the blanks, but it works.This was one of the year’s more anticipated releases for yours Steely, and though it doesn’t hit with the same force as The Weight of Remembrance, In Pentience and Ruin is still a very good, and nearly great Gothic doom album. Yes, there’s a general softening as they try to expand the boundaries of their sound, but this is still compelling and heavy enough to satisfy that unsightly doom itch. Tribunal continue to impress and I’m excited to see where they go next. Hear this and get depressed in a fucking classy way. Rating: 3.5/5.0 DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3 Label: <a href="https://www.20buckspin.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">20 Buck Spin</a> Websites: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tribunaldoom/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">instagram.com/tribunaldoom</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TribunalDoom/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/tribunaldoom</a> Releases Worldwide: April 18th, 2025<a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/20-buck-spin/" target="_blank">#20BuckSpin</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/35/" target="_blank">#35</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/apr25/" target="_blank">#Apr25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/canadian-metal/" target="_blank">#CanadianMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/doom-metal/" target="_blank">#DoomMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/draconian/" target="_blank">#Draconian</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/gothic-doom/" target="_blank">#GothicDoom</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/jex-thoth/" target="_blank">#JexThoth</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/my-dying-bride/" target="_blank">#MyDyingBride</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/penitence-and-ruin/" target="_blank">#PenitenceAndRuin</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/the-weight-of-remembrance/" target="_blank">#TheWeightOfRemembrance</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/tribunal/" target="_blank">#Tribunal</a>

Angry Metal Guy<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/castle-evil-remains-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Castle – Evil Remains Review</a>By Steel DruhmI had quite a torrid love affair with Castle from 2011 through 2016. Their gritty, back alley take on occult doom really got into my bones and I was helpless to resist their demonic charms. Albums like <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/castle-in-witch-order-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">In Witch Order</a>, <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/castle-blacklands-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Blacklands</a>, and <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/castle-siege-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Under Siege</a> were in near-constant rotation at the House of Steel and I wanted more, more, MOAR. They were just so skilled at their chosen brand of minimalist street doom and Elizabeth Blackwell’s rough yet seductive vocals were nigh irresistible. By the time 2018s Deal Thy Fate rolled around, some of the bloom was off the black rose and things were starting to sound a touch less essential. Fast forward 6 years and we’ve survived a million crises and the whole occult doom trend has died down considerably, with acts like Jex Thoth and Sabbath Assembly going quiet. This new world order awaits Castle as they finally return with a fresh album. Will the long absence make my rusty heart grow fonder for Castle, or will Evil Remains fall victim to the insidious Law of Diminishing Recordings?As opener “Queen of Death” kicked off I got a warm, nostalgic feeling in the empty void where my heart should be. It’s good to hear Elizabeth Blackwell’s demonic snarls and sultry crooning again and Mat Davis’ beefy leads are still aces. It’s the same hard-rocking doom they’ve excelled at forever and the big, burly grooves are a pleasure to be crushed by. Blackwell sounds great and she’s still unmatched at changing tones to suit the moment, moving from menacing to alluring. This one could have been on In Witch Order, which means Castle aren’t fucking around here. “Nosferatu Nights” is even better— aggressive and dark but chock full of hooks that pierce the flesh. Mat Davis shines brightly with some filthy, very Wino-esque playing and Elizabeth sings her witchy heart out. “Deja Voodoo” is also pure fire and one of the better songs in the Castle stable, fully leveraging the band’s strengths on a very good piece of mood-drenched writing. Elizabeth owns this song completely with her necromantic exhortations and the riffs are just the right amount of damn-nasty.Evil Remains is a consistently spry album. “Black Spell” is almost NWoBHM in style, upbeat and urgent with Judas Priest-adjacent riffage, but it manages to keep the occult doom aesthetic intact. “She” is a badass song crackling with inky, doomy magik. The guitar playing speaks to the olden days of American doom but the hard rocking energy forces it into more vigorous, shambling action. A few songs feel less mighty, but none are bad or skip-worthy and the album’s tight 37-plus minute runtime is very easy to digest. Everything flows well and the energy levels are kept in that sweet spot between doom and rock to prevent your eyes from glazing over.There are traces of Pentagram, The Obsessed, and Saint Vitus in the DNA of Mat Davis’ guitar work, and I hear a lot of Wino in his phrasing along with a deep love of 70s rock. He’s always been great at channeling the ghosts of doom’s past and shocking them with extra power and he does it again across the album. He’s especially good at locking into weighty grooves only to depart to hit a righteous solo or colorful flourish. Elizabeth Blackwell has always been one of my favorite metal vocalists and she’s on her game here. Her ability to chill the soul one moment and enchant the next has always been the biggest piece of the Castle puzzle and she’s lost none of her power. She gives it her all on “Nosferatu Nights” and “Deja Voodoo” and I can’t imagine anyone else doing it better. In the end, Davis and Blackwell demonstrate yet again that their stripped-down take on doom rock is a winning one and that I’m still a sucker for it.It seems my days in the occult doom bubble are not over thanks to Castle. Evil Remains features everything I love about their sound and offers a collection of punchy songs with enough weight to convince. It’s good to hear Castle alive and well and I hope they can keep the wicked times rolling. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! Rating: 3.5/5.0 DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3 Label: <a href="https://www.hammerheart.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hammerheart</a> Websites: <a href="https://castlesf.bandcamp.com/album/evil-remains" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">castlesf.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="https://www.heavycastle.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">heavycastle.com</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CastleSF" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/castlesf</a> Releases Worldwide: September 6th, 2024<a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/35/" target="_blank">#35</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/american-metal/" target="_blank">#AmericanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/castle/" target="_blank">#Castle</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/doom-metal/" target="_blank">#DoomMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/evil-remains/" target="_blank">#EvilRemains</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/hammerheart-records/" target="_blank">#HammerheartRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/in-witch-order/" target="_blank">#InWitchOrder</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/jex-thoth/" target="_blank">#JexThoth</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/occult-metal/" target="_blank">#OccultMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sabbath-assembly/" target="_blank">#SabbathAssembly</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sep24/" target="_blank">#Sep24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/under-siege/" target="_blank">#UnderSiege</a>

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