The Vile Conception

Hour of Penance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Unique Leader
• ASIN: B0012IWIW2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,073 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Devastating, April 29, 2010

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vile Conception (Audio CD)

There are so many death metal bands in this day and age that it can be fairly easy to get confused by them. Someone might be wondering which is deserving of his/her time and money; but one could just as-likely be stuck with the question of which should go in what sub-genre (traditional death, melodeath, etc.) So let's say you're itching to find some true brutal death metal; but alas, the current scene is glutted with it, and who wants to spend the time sampling to all of it? Well, fortunately, there are a few groups left-standing today which simply put numerous others to shame, and exposes the imitators for who they are. And even if one of those groups in question unabashedly self-describes its own music as said genre, you can tell upon the first listen to their song that they are the real deal. So, who am I talking about? Hour of Penance, of course.

H.O.P. draw influence from Deicide (vocals, lyrics), Hate Eternal and Cannibal Corpse (guitar riffs), Necrophagist (sweeps), Kataklysm (drum sound), and Spawn of Possession (cover art). Immolation-styled technical guitar work is also a key ingredient in their music. But their sound is perhaps most readily described in three simple words: Origin on steroids. On the downside, there isn't anything on their second full-length, 2008's "The Vile Conception," that any death metal follower hasn't heard before. Plus, there's nothing wrong with death metal being extremely technical, but this is just a bit too technical -- it loses a few points for its mechanical, computer-precision musicianship. That said, seasoned metalheads will find that there is a lot to like about this record; and thus, probably dismiss any shortcomings as minor (or maybe even obsolete).

One big advantage that this Italian sextet has (which many other up-and-coming deathsters don't) is an immaculate production job. (This is an even more surprising fact considering Unique Leader isn't a particularly well-off record label.) This plenty-loud, razor-sharp, and crystal-clear sound ensures that the listener can get the absolute most out of the music by making it possible for him/her to make-out almost every single note that is being played. Another secret weapon is drummer Mauro Mercurio, who is one heckuva beast behind his trapkit: His frenetic, heavily-triggered, and seemingly-octo-limbed blast mania is remarkable to say the least. Mauro is also keeps the gas pedal floored, and the intensity level in the red throughout this ten-track, 36 and a half minute-long playing-time. But it doesn't stop there: Top this off with huge, rip-roaring (yet often surprisingly catchy) riffs, Nile-inspired leads, steamrolling rhythms, and ultra-evil and guttural bellows from frontman Francesco Paoli, and what do we get? We have ourselves a freaking monster, here, folks.

The album's statement of intent is made clear from the exact moment that the PLAY button is pressed: Opener "Misconception" crushes just about every single bone in the listener's cranium. It explodes out of the speakers as a totally devastating frenzy of nimble-fingered picking and blanket after blanket of airtight drumming played at breakneck speed. "Liturgy of Deceivers" continues down that same path, with the guitarists' razor-wire riffage and blistering solos slice through thunderous rhythms, raw, "rat-tat-tat" machine-gun blasting, and punishing, lumbering breakdowns. "Hideously Conceived" is noteworthy for tucking in a good, winding guitar solo amidst all of the usual rapid-fire chaos; "Drowned in the Abyss of Ignorance," is another blastfest, but it differs from the others in that it offsets punching/bobbing guitar hooks with drumming that is so insane that it seemingly flies by in a disorienting blur; and track five, "Absence of Truth," with its driving double-kick work that is comparable to the likes of Behemoth's "Inferno" (quite a high compliment, indeed!), is another cannon-fire-esque foundation-shaker.

That was the first five songs, now the other five. Mercurio again takes over the spotlight in "Slavery in a Deaf Decay," where it sounds like his hands and feet are tied to a motor running (at least) 250 MPH. This becomes even more impressive when Hour of Penance suddenly decide (about halfway through) to take on a more "math-y" approach by making the tempo repeatedly fly from a near-dead-stop back to its usual speed. Next up comes "The Holy Betrayal," which is highlighted by a lengthy, winding, shredding, and even kind of ripping whammy bar guitar solo; and "From Hate to Suffering," which evokes the sound of two machine-guns firing at the same time! And now, onto the last two remaining tunes: "Conjuration Sworn," a particularly catchy number with a rhythmic, lurching breakdown that practically screams "headbang!"; and the closing "Hierarchy of the Fools" is another aptly brutalizing onslaught with still more stop-start, jackhammer-fast drumming, fiery, biting guitar licks, and a blazing solo.

To summarize, "The Vile Conception" may not a masterpiece by any means, but it is a good, solid effort, and a very enjoyable and enthralling listen. Furthermore, it is clear that the album had just one goal: To be a big slice of extremely fast, outrageously technical, and unquestionably brutal death metal; and to that extent, it was definitely successful. And finally, it may not do much to, say, help Hour of Penance become the next big thing in music, but it will appeal to all devout and fans of straight -ahead, inexorable, slamming death metal.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heres an album you must own, July 27, 2009

By 

Nicholas J. Gregory "Nikg" (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Vile Conception (Audio CD)

This album is like getting hit in the face with a spiked bat. The album starts strong and ends strong, with drumming out this world, fresh guitar work and superb vocal ability. Each song packs a punch and there are no "slow" songs on the album, it's just crushing in every sense of the word. If your a fan of Death Metal, then this is definitely an album to check out.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncompromizing death metal, November 6, 2008

By 

Drum Blast "DB" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Vile Conception (Audio CD)

If you like it brutal and fast, this CD will do it for you. Fans of Unmerciful, Origin, Odious Mortem, Severed Savior etc... will dig this CD. If you like Miley Cyrus, you will like it as well.