ALBUM REVIEW: Misotheism – Hour Of Penance

In the boot of Europe, there is a triumvirate of brutality and virtuosity leading the way for death metal in southern Europe. Orchestral favourites FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE led the pack, while HIDEOUS DIVINITY are set to make waves with their Century Media Records debut due in November this year. However, the most prolific and long-lived of the trio, HOUR OF PENANCE, are also back once more, armed with a brand new label deal and a hunger to push themselves to giddy new heights. Having struggled to match the brilliance of their 2012’s opus Sedition, can they return to glory with Misotheism?

Intro track Mass Crucifixion of Kings serves as a cinematic opening, before HOUR OF PENANCE rocket straight for the jugular with Blight and Conquer. Here, it is immediately clear that the band have grown considerably since 2017’s Cast the First Stone. Leaning even further into the black metal elements that have always peppered their sound, the band have also taken a step away from the unrelenting sonic punishment – the brutality is still there, fret not, but there’s a larger focus on musicality and hooks amid the crushing riffs. A welcome evolution.

This becomes a consistent theme running through Misotheism. The level of memorability and catchiness throughout the record comes right from left field, a surprising but very, very welcome change of pace for the band. The incredible production job is a massive help to this – there’s still a hint of rawness, a rough-around-the-edges character, but juxtapositionally there is also an incredible clarity, allowing every drum stroke, note and syllable to cut through the mix. Following from Blight and Conquer, Fallen from Ivory Towers is a perfect example of the production job – the double bass work and blasting hit the listener with the rib-cage rattling ferocity you’d expect in a live setting, while the cleaner guitar lines cut through perfectly.

Clearly keen to highlight a massive jump forward in songwriting ability with this crisper, stronger production, HOUR OF PENANCE keep the good times rollin’. The Second Babel is a groove-heavy, catchy blast of fun with bursts of wonderful lead work; Lamb of the Seven Sins is a longer, more grandiose piece, proving to be an album highlight with its epic scale and thunderous delivery; lead single Flames of Merciless Gods is a jaw-dropping masterclass in blackened/technical death metal, complete with some blistering solo work that sees it join Lamb of the Seven Sins as an album highlight.

This continues well into the second half of Misotheism. Sovereign Nation has, arguably, the biggest chorus HOUR OF PENANCE have put to tape, and is a guaranteed anthem for the live cycle. Meanwhile, Dura Lex Sed Lex and the penultimate Iudex offer an atmospheric blast of aggression that leads the record up to its closing moment – the brilliant Occult Den of Snakes. Ethereal melodies and another dose of the epic scale HOUR OF PENANCE have proven they are so excellent at utilising sees this mid-paced stomper build to the album’s climax. Grooves, hooks, and an unsettled atmosphere make Occult Den of Snakes a unique moment in Misotheism, and all the more memorable as the record closer.

HOUR OF PENANCE have been invigorated with their new deal with Poland’s Agonia Records – this much is clear. Where the band’s latest albums were solid, but somewhat uninspired, Misotheism sees the Italian troupe at the apex of their creativity. Flawless production, massively improved songwriting and an oppressive atmosphere come together making Misotheism the strongest HOUR OF PENANCE record since Sedition – if not in their whole career.

Rating: 8/10

Misotheism is out now via Agonia Records. 

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