Finding new bands can sometimes feel like a large coincidence. It was the week of Hyperspace Metal Festival in early April. Amidst various related posts, IG surfaces an album release show in mid-May for a band I was unfamiliar with, but I thought they sounded cool. Then, while waiting in line on Day 3 of Hyperspace, my chatty self discovers that the gal behind me is Dallas Alice, keyboard player for Tribunal, the very same band I had literally just discovered. And as much as I want, I sadly cannot attend tonight’s album release show due to being on a work trip.

Tribunal hails from Vancouver, BC, and recently released “In Penitence and Ruin.” I am quite enamored with this album, so let me describe it for you. Imagine walking up the side of a dark mountain with a gothic castle perched on top, fully illuminated by candles. The mood is melancholy, made extra so by the gorgeous cello singing from within. A beautiful powerful siren emanates from inside, matched only by the tortured growls from the beast performing alongside her. The guitars are crushing, the drums thunderous, the keys haunting. The pace is deliberate and plodding, with plenty of atmosphere. This is excellent gothic-tinged epic death doom, bringing to mind bands like My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Paramaecium, but with a polished modern feel. Clean siren Soren Mourne, who also plays cello and bass, and growler / guitarist Etienne Flinn, complement each other superbly, creating an amazing Beauty and the Beast dynamic. Mourne, in particular, sounds absolutely majestic with her delivery, with soaring vocals packing a lot of sorrowful punch, while Flinn’s vocals add tortured despair. The instruments are all fabulous, but I particularly love how the cello is not an afterthought or used sparingly, but rather an integral piece of every song. It adds a lot of depth to the compositions and truly brings out the melancholy feel, appropriate for a concept album focused on a guilty penitent unsuccessfully trying to escape punishment for his actions.

“Incarnadine” is cello forward out of the gate, setting the tone early before the guitars and drums come in, a melancholy wall of sound that gives you a taste of what this album has in store. The song takes a gothic turn when Mourne’s vocals begin, but the doom quickly returns with Flinn’s growls. The beauty and beast dynamic works so well, and the haunting keyboards paired with the cello add a great atmospheric feel. The cello and guitar take turns playing lead, even working together, and the band does a masterful job layering everything together.

“A Wound Unhearing” induces goosebumps at the beginning with Mourne’s powerful vocals, and the song just has a massive bombastic feel. The keyboards give it a cinematic gothic horror feel, the cello and guitars meld perfectly in their rhythm and lead work, and Beauty and the Beast has come to deliver a vocal Reckoning. The somber ending is perfection.

“Angel of Mercy” will induce a consistent methodic head bang, and the cello melodies are exceptional, as are the pacing dynamics. “The Sword of the Slain” drips gothic sorrow with mournful melodies, plenty of heft, and terrific vocal dynamics. The second half picks up the pace and has an atmospheric blackened death feel, demonstrating additional breadth.

“Ruin” provides a brief reprieve, showering you with a hauntingly beautiful cello and keyboard instrumental. It serves as an intro for the much heavier gothic death doom fest, “The Penitent,” which reprises the main melody from “Ruin.” The cello melodies in this song are some of my favorites on the album and overlay perfectly with the crushing guitars.

“Armoured in Shadow” has a big epic feel, and I particularly love Mourne’s vocal range, power, and those hooks! “…And the Thorn-Choked Flowers Grow” is one of the heaviest feeling tracks on the album and really showcases how well Mourne and Flinn complement each other vocally. “Between the Sea and Stars” feels like a closer both musically and lyrically. I love the various melodies in this track, particularly the ending that feels simultaneously morose and hopeful, tying the album up nicely.

This is an incredible sophomore effort from this band, and the concept album feel really shines through. I also think the cello being such a key voice makes these songs stand out. If you are a fan of epic death doom with a bit of a twist here and there, you should definitely give this album a listen. I definitely hope to get the opportunity to see Tribunal live soon!

Original Instagram review Part 1
Original Instagram review Part 2
Original Instagram review Part 3