Tribulation - The Horror Review
by Matt Hensch
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Music is an infinite pit of magic. Sometimes it feels emotional. In other instances it appears enraging. On occasion, one's face is sprayed with so much violence and chaos it melts one's goddamn visage into a mess of burned flesh while the sickening scent of phosphorus hovers about, the perfect equation of musical madness.
Tribulation, a young and promising death metal band from Sweden, takes this idea to heart on their debut full-length The Horror unlike others attempting such destruction. Their formula is like napalm which burns and churns, yet it's a clear fact something so violent has never seemed so fun. Enjoy hardy tales of horror and murder while enshrouded in gore and undead madness? If so, Tribulation is a sound pick!
The fun here is the simple, beefy death metal. There are no experimental shenanigans, just a four-man guillotine. I quickly noticed right off the bat the riffs are no laughing matter. Filled with old-school thrash touches and tremolo picking so devastating one's ancestors will sway in their graves, I promise it will drive everyone in audible range insane. Tribulation's guitar attack is wonderfully crafted within the radius of brutality and instrumental responsibility perfectly, so it's a clear observation these gentlemen passed Death Metal Riffing 101 with flying colors. The lead work is also absolute insanity captured on plastic, with such swelling chaos if one doesn't have their jaw on the floor after experiencing the technicality and the utter shredding corruption, one should probably leave the hall.
As for everything else, The Horror inherits the genetic abomination which makes a hemophiliac run dry in seconds. Johannes Andersson's growls are dark, horrifying, and fantastic when discussing the pattern his voice takes throughout Tribulation's damning voyage. The drums are likewise a riveting force behind Tribulation's attack, releasing an unrelenting montage of turbo-charged footwork layered over perhaps the best sounding snare I've ever heard, exquisite symbol usage, and audio features which shriek of Sweden in 1990. Overall, the quartet forges a nifty sample of what death metal is supposed to be – something like "The Vampyre" marches through with fire-burst gallops, intense riffing, and so much audio velocity one's neck will dislocate. To do such a thing takes a special band, and Tribulation is indeed fresh air compared to a lot of other death metal groups couldn't nail the sound if Alex Webster provided a tutorial.
Everything about this record is superb. The riffs are furious and well-crafted, Johannes Andersson's growls appear fresh and lively, the percussion is devastating, the solos absolutely magnificent, and it obviously delivers an overall sound can split one's skull. I can verify Tribulation is a great band and this is a fantastic record. If one finds sanctuary within the quarters of such blasphemous tribes like Possessed, Grotesque, Kreator, or Death, then I cannot stress enough how essential The Horror is.Tracklisting
Into the Jaws of Hell
Crypt of Thanatophilia
Curse of Resurrection
Beyond the Horror
The Vampyre
Sacrilegious Darkness
Spawn of the Jackal
Seduced by the Smell of Rotten Flesh
Graveyard Ghouls
CD Info and Links
Tribulation - The Horror Rating:9.0
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