Repentance – The Process of Human Demise (Noble Demon)
Friday, 11th August 2023
Aggressive modern thrash/groove metal is one area that this scribe does take a particular liking to. The simultaneous firing of massive hooks and raw energy is something that can grab anyone and take them for a ride. Repentance comes to us from Chicago, formed by Shaun Glass (ex-Broken Hope, ex-Soil), and while they formed in 2018, it was the ‘rebirth’ of the act in 2021 (Glass is the only initial member remaining) and subsequent signing to label Noble Demon that initially grabbed some deserved attention. Also featuring Product of Hate vocalist Adam Gilley, the group’s first EP Volume 1: Reborn set the tone for their vicious yet melodic template. To that end, The Process of Human Demise provides an energetic romp through thrashy yet catchy waters that may feel familiar but incredibly well executed for the genre.
The most important questions in regards to the overall effectiveness of Repentance’s formula are simple and tw0-fold. Does it groove? Does it give you an musical punch to the face? The answer to both of these questions are a resounding yes, and that’s what makes The Process of Human Demise shine. The band can roll out some incredibly frantic thrash tempos, like in “Venom Inside,” and give you that adrenaline level of acts like The Haunted (or even Gilley’s own Product of Hate) like no one’s business. But at the same time, some of the slick, ear-wormy grooves they can dole out on the title track are bound to stick with you for quite some time. Combining those two sides together makes something more than the sum of it’s parts. Whether it’s the aforementioned groove/riff combos, or even a dip into more melodious waters in “Down in the Water,” the band churns out some high quality instrumentation that is hard to deny. Putting Gilley’s already aggressive yet varied vocals on top of all this is really the final piece that leads Repentance into being a ‘need to know’ act. “Reborn” may act as the best single introduction to the group for the uninitiated – with Gilley going all out with varied screams and even a few cleaner vocals, championing the band’s dual nature. But don’t count out the galloping “Withered and Decayed,” which features some guest vocals from current Fear Factory vocalist Milo Silvestro if you need a second opinion.
Visceral yet maintaining it’s presence over the long-term due to some chunky grooves and catchy hooks, The Process of Human Demise paints Repentance as an up and coming winner in the modern metal arena. Fans of the aforementioned duality are highly encouraged to give them a shot. You can never go wrong with that level of energy and aggression that doesn’t wane with repeat listens.
