Holy Roar Records has been on a roll over the past couple of years, with releases this year alone from Rolo Tomassi and Conjurer, amongst others, of the highest order. The indie record label has truly made a name for themselves for pushing brilliant bands forward who will be here to stay. portrayal of guilt are the latest band to release their debut album on the label (which is available via Gilead Media in Northern America) but will it live up to the high standards set by their peers?

Recorded in a basement over the course of 48 hours, Let Pain Be Your Guide should prove that the band’s worth as a force in the Metal / extreme post-Hardcore scene, after displaying their potential on their previous self-titled EP. Drawing together a range of different particles from Black Metal to Hardcore Punk, Let Pain Be Your Guide, creates an effect of both anger and melancholy from the two conflicting subgenres.

Straight from the opening track ‘Daymare’, portrayal of guilt immediately show their prowess at creating a dark and haunting atmosphere. Rasping high pitch shrieks surrounded by a wall of heavy, distorted guitar riffs fill the area. Inspirations from acts such as Darkthrone are prevalent throughout in the raw, caustic thrashing waves that feature haunting interludes.

At its best, Let Pain Be Your Guide releases a feral beast rampaging, whilst at the same time creating a thick atmosphere of dread. However, the sudden shifts in moods and tone from slow and moody, to fast and aggressive become predictable halfway through the album and, whilst the standard of the music is high, there’s not much that makes each individual song stand out from the crowd. The main downfall of the album comes from the overall flow, an example of this is from the self-titled track where the band slowly build up a dense instrumental beat which is then ultimately lost as it transitions into ‘Your War’ which loses the Industrial sound in exchange for a Hardcore one.

While there may be some flaws on their debut album, portrayal of guilt display a tremendous amount of potential and moments of fantastic writing creating soundscapes, atmospheres, and moods. This, unfortunately, falls by the wayside due to the pacing and structural issues, making the overall effort seem fragmented. If the band addresses this issue, then they could have one big upturn.

7 / 10

CHARLIE HILL