“In Penitence And Ruin,” the mournful second LP by Vancouver, British Columbia-based orchestral Death/Doom Metal quintet Tribunal, is now streaming in its entirety ahead of its official release on 20 Buck Spin this Friday.
Stream the whole album through the YouTube player below:
Tribunal 2023 debut “The Weight Of Remembrance” set a high bar for becoming one of the year’s most notable and praised Doom releases. The band has taken their time and crafted an opus of enormous scope to echo evermore through halls long abandoned.
Conjured by Tribunal’s new form as a fully fleshed-out quintet – with founding bassist/cellist/vocalist Soren Mourne and guitarist/vocalist Etienne Flinn joined by guitarist Jessica Yang, drummer Julia Geaman, and keyboardist Dallas Alice – “In Penitence And Ruin” has a wider lens of cohesion and maturity weaving together the widow’s wail of doleful strings, chilling keys, and percussion that tolls like the iron bell of fate. These elements ornament the monolithic foundation of crushing dirge and funereal melodies hewn from the marrow of sorrow itself. A conceptual piece, the songs form a cycle that ruminates on justice and punishment, centering on a guilty Penitent who cannot escape what they have done. The duality between the wistful, impassioned singing of Soren Mourne and agonized growls from Etienne Flinn bind with resolute tread and stride forth into darkness, traversing a path lit only by the pale glow of distant lament.
Tribunal hath wrought a requiem most dire, where beauty and ruin become one and in doing have forged a second album beyond expectations, bold in its exploration of timeless human flaws and eminently listenable as a scripture of loss. Like ivy upon the tombstone, In Penitence And Ruin winds slowly but inexorably towards spectral grandeur and eternal oblivion. A must-hear album for those who worship the work of Candlemass, Blood Ceremony, My Dying Bride, Draconian, Woods Of Ypres, Theatre Of Tragedy, and Jex Thoth.
With additional vocals performed by Rory Say, “In Penitence And Ruin” was produced by Tribunal and Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders who also recorded the drums and mixed the album. The songs were then mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios. The cover painting and lettering were crafted by the band’s own Soren Mourne, and the album is completed with layout by Chimere Noire and photography by Sav Bagshaw.
“In Penitence And Ruin” will be released this Friday, April 18th on LP, CD, MC, and digital formats. Find Pre-Orders and merch at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Having been forced to cancel their planned shows in Washington in May, including a set at Northwest Terror Fest, Tribunal is booking new live performances in support of the new album, including a newly booked hometown release show for the album on May 18th. Expect more live news to be announced throughout the year.
Tribunal Live:
5/02/2025 Phoenix Bar – Victoria, BC
5/18/2025 The Kingsway Club – Vancouver, BC *album release show
