Have you ever heard a band and went to look up more material by them, just to find out they have a plethora of albums and why the fuck haven’t you heard them until now? This describes my experience upon first listening to Hour of Penance!
Devastating ear drums since 1999, Hour of Penance has been way across the pond in Rome, Italy cranking out album after album of pure filth right under our noses. Their latest album, Devotion, will be their NINTH ALBUM!!! And it’s proving to be the filthiest one to date!
The first track, “Devotion to Tyranny”, is breathtaking. Fast, heavy, and destructive are the best words I can use to describe the sound. You’ll be making the “smelled a fart” face, because this shit is putrid and Paolo Pieri’s vocals are the perfect fit. “Parasitic Chain of Command”, the next track, is straight blast beat and double bass central. Giacomo Torti on the drums is a goddamn machine! The riffage is something else, as well. You of course get your face melted by Giulio Moschini, plenty. My personal favorite track off the album has to be “The Ravenous Heralds”. After listening to the rest of their discography, I find it to be a nice blend of old with new. That, and it has my favorite guitar solo on the album.
Consistency, musical prowess, two decades worth of experience, and a ton of material for you to get yourself lost in. Long story short, do yourself a favor and give Hour of Penance a spin if you’re looking for a heavy as bricks band to dive head first into the shallow end with. They won’t hold your hand though.
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