EP REVIEW: Hamartia – Tribulation

When 2021’s When The Gloom Becomes Sound released, founding guitarist Jonathan Hultén unexpectedly departed TRIBULATION, in turn leaving the band in a slightly odd position. Hultén was not only a significant part of TRIBULATION’s sound, thanks to his winding guitar interplay with fellow member Adam Zaars, but he was a significant source of songwriting for the band. His exit could have spelt curtains for a group that relied heavily on his touch. While TRIBUATION haven’t been entirely quiet since, even releasing a final Hultén-penned track last year and touring with new guitarist Joseph Tholl, their new EP Hamartia sees the Swedish outfit firmly moving forward and assuaging any lingering doubts.

Let’s make no bones about it, Hamartia is TRIBULATION in all their dusty, embittered glory. With the title track’s dramatic opening chords, relentlessly hissy snare drums and the blackened snarls of Johannes Andersson roaring, the EP starts off on solid, if somewhat familiar footing. Pounding, blackened guitars in the verses make the proceedings somewhat evocative of latter-day SATYRICON before the song reduces everything back to cobwebbed, mellow guitars for a brief pause. It’s a fleeting respite however, as soaring guitars from both Zaars and Tholl take centre stage. With two melodic and haunting solos, the lengthy instrumental section has TRIBULATION showing they haven’t missed a beat in the last few years.

The next track, Axis Mundi, picks up the baton from Hamartia splendidly. Opening with swirling, intricate guitar leads, the song swaps between open, atmospheric verses and domineering guitar lines with all the finesse and dramatism the band can muster. It all coagulates and builds into a sinisterly anthemic chorus – or, at least, as anthemic as you can be when your vocals sound like they’re being blasted from a musty transistor. It’s a shorter, more direct cut for the band but it still brims with shadowy energy.

After two high energy aural assaults, Hemoclysm sees TRIBULATION slow things down a touch. We’re greeted with the melancholic sound of clean arpeggios that gradually give way to slow, deliberate and doomy distorted riffs. When Andersson’s vocals kick in, they make a huge impact – his bellowed shouts of “Tell us where to go and we’ll go there” up the song’s intensity, with the instrumentation’s haunting sway transforming into a blackened march underneath. With some discordant piano trills rearing their head throughout, the song carries all the unsettling menace of a haunted mansion.

The final track sees TRIBULATION tackle a classic, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT’s Vengeance (The Pact), and make it their own. The song’s driving riff becomes infectiously doomy in their hands and Andersson’s bark works well. The biggest surprise however is the introduction of clean backing vocals in the chorus. With their silky-smooth tones and layered chorus effects, they provide a great counterpoint to the rougher lead vocals – and even Andersson’s bone-shaking rattle also feels more tuneful than usual. With a beautifully melodic guitar solo and an AOR-infused refrain to boot, it’s hard not to make a comparison to a certain other gothic-tinged Swedish act. It’s all-around a fun cover and who knows, maybe a spark of inspiration on how TRIBULATION can develop their sound from here.

Short though it may be, Hamartia is convincing reassurance that TRIBULATION are still stood on solid ground, able to churn out their mistily dark bangers like nobody’s business. And while that’s great to know, you’ve got to wonder where this new incarnation of the band goes next – hopefully this is just a teaser for a rejuvenation of an album.

Rating: 8/10

Hamartia is set for release on April 7th via Century Media Records.

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