20 Buck Spin presents the label’s first release of 2023, the melancholic and entrancing debut album from Vancouver, British Columbia-based duo Tribunal.
Tribunal may yet be unknown to the wider world, but their spellbinding “The Weight of Remembrance” is poised to immediately change that. Steeped in the black velvet finery of gothic doom metal, the band weaves dark tales of ultimate judgement, never-ending rain, and forsaken despair.
Featuring classically trained cellist, bassist & vocalist Soren Mourne and guitarist & vocalist Etienne Flinn, Tribunal’s brick-heavy classic doom riffage borders on death metal heaviness, like My Dying Bride filtered through a colossal stained-glass edifice. The sound is instantly familiar with nods to the ‘80s and ‘90s but never sounds retro or like mere homage. Rather, “The Weight of Remembrance” evokes the feeling of a painstakingly composed orchestral movement fit for a crumbling cathedral overgrown with moss. The duo frequently trades off vocals alternating between haunted wailing cleans, scathing black-metal style shrieks and dread-filled death calls.
Joining Mourne and Flinn, “The Weight of Remembrance” features additional contributions from several other talented musicians, including drums by Julia Geaman, additional drums on “Apathy’s Keep” by Magdalena Wienski, piano on “Remembrance” by Claine Lamb, and additional vocals by Rory Say. The album was recorded by Tribunal except for the primary drums which were recorded by Andrew Conroy at Fifth Chord Studios and Wienski’s drums, which were recorded by Violetta Macri at CJSF, after which the songs were mixed and mastered by Markov Soroka. The beautifully painted cover artwork was created by Soren Mourne, with lettering and frame by Karmazid, photography by Liam Kanigan, and layout by Dan Fried completing the presentation.
Tribunal’s debut is an essential addition to the modern doom canon, one which can expand in infinite musical directions from a base of crushing tragic heaviness and forlorn purpose. In that sense “The Weight of Remembrance” has the accomplished atmosphere of a band beyond their years in the scope and execution of its vision. Fans of My Dying Bride, Candlemass, Type O Negative, Paradise Lost, Occultation, Dream Unending, and Pentagram should not miss out on Tribunal.
The lead single from Tribunal’s “The Weight of Remembrance”, “Apathy’s Keep”, can now be streamed below.
“The Weight of Remembrance” will be released on LP, CD, CS, and digital on January 20th, 2023. Preorders have been issued through the 20 Buck Spin webshop here and Bandcamp.
Tracklist:
1. Initiation
2. Of Creeping Moss And Crumbled Stone
3. Apathy’s Keep
4. Remembrance
5. A World Beyond Shadow
6. Without Answer
7. The Path
Watch for additional previews of the LP to post shortly, and for Tribunal to announce select live performances throughout 2023.
Line-up:
Soren Mourne – Bass, cello, vocals
Etienne Flinn – Guitar, vocals
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/TribunalDoom
www.instagram.com/tribunaldoom
