Since their inception in the black mire of the UK underground in 2016, Bound In Fear have gone from strength to formidable strength. With a menacing, bludgeoning and ruthless sound the band capture the bleak and brutal in scintillating fashion, making never of steel fray at the edges. While their debut album The Hand Of Violence launched the band into the upper echelons, it was the Eternal EP where the band honed their sound. Incorporating soundscapes and deeply reflective lyrics, the latter half of 2021 sees the band release the natural successor to Eternal, with their new release Penance.
Opening up with ‘(De)scedence’ featuring Heart Of A Coward’s Jamie Graham it is clear from the outset that the band have a strong message to deliver, and it is done so in brutal fashion. While the band by their very nature are reflective and cathartic in dealing with inner strife and struggle, but Penance as a whole has a unique weight to it. While Eternal focused on the inward emotions that people don’t often discuss, Penance is the lashing out. The visceral, high concentration of inner pain being released because of the bitter sadness and confusion that has been held in for too long. With this in mind, the concepts of Penance are presented perfectly as the opposite side of the Eternal coin. Utilising a range of extreme metal sub-genres, the overall sound is richly diverse tapestry of soundscapes and crushing riffs. Whilst the epicentre of this monstrous earthquake of sound sits firmly in deathcore, several tracks incorporate metallic hardcore chugs alongside progressive metal atmospherics, to create a sinister environment which only accentuates the sonic bludgeoning that you receive. The various dynamic shifts give the album a distinctly organised chaotic flow to it, coupled with the concept of the album it mirrors perfectly the nature of pain, sadness and confusion that you feel when going through inner turbulence.
Shifting between the cold and unnerving quiet of soundscapes passages and the ruthless, unmerciful barrage of subwoofer shattering breakdowns, Penance keeps you on your toes. With various designed sound elements seemingly rotating around your skull adds a sense of anxiety to the album, as you are aware of it happening but can do nothing to stop it. Capitalising on these dark and intense emotions gives the album its gritty, raw edge. The album also contains something cathartic amongst this relentless chaotic force, an acknowledgement and understanding that being angry, sad, upset and confused is okay. With this in mind, the album takes on a powerful tone, the listener is imbued with a sense of “no matter what stands in your way, it can be beaten”.
The most intriguing song on the album is it’s closer, ‘Polarity’. The more groove focused, atmospheric approach catches you off guard after nine tracks of sonic beating. This song also carries a significant emotional weight, serving as the song that consolidates all the inner rage and gives you a chance to reflect in the rawest way possible. While the conceptual weight is a key part of the record, the music that surround it is a solid slab of skull splitting monstrosity. With the aforementioned metallic hardcore vibe, the various glitches and sound clips give the album an eerie feel in the Slipknot Iowa era way, alongside riffs that have a controlled and calculated aggressive temperament. Bound In Fear have pushed their sound to the next level to create a hulking beast of a record that will usher in a new dawn for a band on the rise. Penance is intricate and menacing in equal measure.