Formed in 1999 out of the great country of Italy comes
HOUR OF PENANCE and their eighth full length album
“Misotheism”. This band has been shredding our faces for twenty years now and have yet to put out anything less than sub-par and that goes for this latest album as well. The band is made up of
Giulio Moschini on Guitar,
Paolo Pieri on Guitar and Vocals,
Marco Mastrobuono on Bass and
Davide Billia on Drums. I recommend this band for any and all lovers of Death Metal!
The first track we have is
“Mass Crucifixion of Kings” which is a great intro.
“Blight and Conquer” comes on and instantly kicks in full force with some of the best Death Metal you can grace your ears with. These legends truly know how to put a fantastic song together.
“Fallen From Ivory Towers” slows the tempo slightly but is still brutal as fuck. This is definitely one of my favorites off the album for sure. It’s one of those songs you can either headbang to or just bob your head to.
The next song
“The Second Babel” is another one that I absolutely loved off the album. This song is written beautifully and the musicianship is way above par. I find that every single note blends together almost perfectly. This is one that I would recommend listening to if you want to get a feeling of the album.
“Flames of Merciless Gods” is another one I really enjoyed through and through. If you are a fan of
BLOODBATH and
BEHEMOTH, then this song would be right up your alley. The last track I really want to bring up is
“Iudex”. It’s an onslaught of just sheer aggression and a ferociousness that is comparable to none.
All in all, I would have to say this is one of the best albums they have ever put out, maybe even the best. From start to finish, this album will have you sitting on the edge of your seat just waiting for the next progression. I have listened to it several times since I got it and will be listening to it for some time to come.
Songwriting: 10
Musicianship: 9
Memorability: 8
Production: 9