Music Style Doom Metal

Musical Influences Katatonia, Saturnus, Anathema, My Dying Bride, Rapture, Fields of The Nephilim

Similar Artists Katatonia, Saturnus, Anathema, My Dying Bride, Rapture

Group Members Hugo Santos: Vocals, guitars and programming Nuno David: Guitars and programming Gonçalo Correia: Drums, Percurssion and additional programing Custódio Rato: Bass

Albums Portraits of Regret, Demising Grace

Press Reviews Doom-Metal.com Reviewed by: Stephen Burrell (25/07/03) It is quite a rare thing to find a really quite unique, original doom-metal band these days, and it is even rarer to find one from Portugal. However, with ‘Portraits of Regret’, a potent, passionate, innovative modern doom masterpiece, Portuguese atmospheric doom-metal maestros Process of Guilt defy all of these past traits. A quick but not identical comparison to PoG would be mid-period (though there are influences from all of the band’s musical incarnations) Katatonia, as well as the more traditional gothic/atmospheric doom comparisons such as My Dying Bride, Lacrimas Profundere, The Gathering and The Third and the Mortal and more influences from a little farther afield (this is definitely a metal CD, and similarities are not just limited to within doom). I also at times even notice fleeting similarities with the guitar riffing of Deinonychus, but generally, Process of Guilt are a very unique band and all comparisons would only be based on slight similarities and influences. One of the things that make this band stand out is the somewhat mechanic, electronic feel to their music, which is of course a rarity in doom-metal. The (impressively) good production, frequent use of samples, electronics and programming, oft distorted vocals, at times gothic/electronic/industrial style distorted guitars and drums that, though according to the demo’s sleeve are man-made, sound distinctly artificial and programmed (but in a good way), all mould to form this mechanic feel whilst making the music feel almost organic in a confusing way. It also really makes the CD extremely atmospheric, and flow fervently, in an mechanical fashion. Despite these technological characteristics, ‘Portraits of Regret’ is still very emotional and doomy. Each song solemnly pours out sadness, regret (unsurprisingly) and despair, and there is a definite bleak, cold air looming throughout the demo, from the sorrowful, solemn moments to the intense, sullen outbursts of speed and bitterness. The vocals are particularly effective, especially with distortion and other such effects, really adding to the intensity of this demo, with the enraged, tortured screams and then gloomy, sad spoken words, and they range in deliverance. Then there is the melancholy guitars, often repetitive and heavily distorted, and in the speedier moments brutal and cold, and then quite depressive and almost dreamy when the music slows, and always retaining the dominating, key role in the music, and doing a good job of it. Meanwhile, Bruno Sabino, the bass guitarist on this CD, is no longer in the band, but his role on ‘Portraits...’ is nonetheless important, with the ardour bass gushing at times solemnly and at others torturously, but always astutely and fondly. The percussions are delivered to perfection, rhythmically controlling the music and making it as intense as it certainly is, and their artificial sound the domineering contributor to the overall modern, mechanic, almost industrial feel to the demo. There is also a lot of additional programming work from samples, synthesisers, keyboards and the like which also add to the melancholy and atmosphere of the music overwhelmingly, as do the glum lyrics, which are thankfully not too overbearing but are emotive and appropriate nonetheless (they too are somewhat unique, and make for some interesting doomy song titles). ‘Portraits of Regret’ is very difficult to define, and despite the pulverising outbursts of speed and mostly upbeat, (doomy) mid-tempo pace to the music, it is still undoubtedly a doom-metal release in my view, largely down to the ambiences and feelings it creates. From there the sub-genre of this demo is anyone’s guess, but I would suppose that the CD would certainly appeal to the more mellow, modern, gothic/atmospheric doom fan, though that is not to say the music is not heavy, it can be intensely crushing, brutal and severe in fact. My favourite song is the first track, a mixture of an intro and the song ‘Dark Patterns’, an almost unbearably intenseand atmospheric song, however, no track is really better than the other on this CD, it’s just one utterly magnificent, atmospheric, bleak, intense opus, filled with passion, pain, desperation, and sorrow, and most reassuringly of all great originality. Process of Guilt are certainly onto something here, and this is one of the best new band’s I’ve heard in a long time...and with only a few years of existence under their belts, and this only their debut release, they have a lot of promise. A fantastic young band to definitely watch out for! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chronicles of Chaos (4 out of 5) by: Pedro Azevedo (article submitted 3/31/2003) Here's one of those really good demos that every once in a (long) while seem to come out of nowhere -- or in this case, out of my own country, Portugal. Process of Guilt are decidedly a doom band, but not in a very conventional way at all. This half-hour long demo CD carries a certain hint of _Brave Murder Day_ era Katatonia, even if -- oddly enough -- it doesn't sound much like that album. Rather, it is the mood that seems to bear some similarity to _Brave Murder Day_, which in my books is a good sign. Sound-wise, they also remind me vaguely of a less technological, less black-oriented Void of Silence. Some spoken word passages, well done and varied artificial vocal distortion, clever use of discrete samples and sound manipulation, interesting guitar touches... a lot of different attributes play their part in making _Portraits of Regret_ stand apart from the crowd. Atomspheric, bleak and with a strong emotional thread running through it, _Portraits of Regret_ shows an intelligent approach to doom metal, and one I would be very interested to see realized on a full-length disc. There's still a few bits and pieces that Process of Guilt need to improve, mainly on the more aggressive passages (get a thicker guitar sound and either a human drummer or a stronger artificial drum sound), but overall this is among the best demos I've heard in a very long while. Doom-Metal.com Reviewed by: Stephen Burrell (25/07/03) It is quite a rare thing to find a really quite unique, original doom-metal band these days, and it is even rarer to find one from Portugal. However, with ‘Portraits of Regret’, a potent, passionate, innovative modern doom masterpiece, Portuguese atmospheric doom-metal maestros Process of Guilt defy all of these past traits. A quick but not identical comparison to PoG would be mid-period (though there are influences from all of the band’s musical incarnations) Katatonia, as well as the more traditional gothic/atmospheric doom comparisons such as My Dying Bride, Lacrimas Profundere, The Gathering and The Third and the Mortal and more influences from a little farther afield (this is definitely a metal CD, and similarities are not just limited to within doom). I also at times even notice fleeting similarities with the guitar riffing of Deinonychus, but generally, Process of Guilt are a very unique band and all comparisons would only be based on slight similarities and influences. One of the things that make this band stand out is the somewhat mechanic, electronic feel to their music, which is of course a rarity in doom-metal. The (impressively) good production, frequent use of samples, electronics and programming, oft distorted vocals, at times gothic/electronic/industrial style distorted guitars and drums that, though according to the demo’s sleeve are man-made, sound distinctly artificial and programmed (but in a good way), all mould to form this mechanic feel whilst making the music feel almost organic in a confusing way. It also really makes the CD extremely atmospheric, and flow fervently, in an mechanical fashion. Despite these technological characteristics, ‘Portraits of Regret’ is still very emotional and doomy. Each song solemnly pours out sadness, regret (unsurprisingly) and despair, and there is a definite bleak, cold air looming throughout the demo, from the sorrowful, solemn moments to the intense, sullen outbursts of speed and bitterness. The vocals are particularly effective, especially with distortion and other such effects, really adding to the intensity of this demo, with the enraged, tortured screams and then gloomy, sad spoken words, and they range in deliverance. Then there is the melancholy guitars, often repetitive and heavily distorted, and in the speedier moments brutal and cold, and then quite depressive and almost dreamy when the music slows, and always retaining the dominating, key role in the music, and doing a good job of it. Meanwhile, Bruno Sabino, the bass guitarist on this CD, is no longer in the band, but his role on ‘Portraits...’ is nonetheless important, with the ardour bass gushing at times solemnly and at others torturously, but always astutely and fondly. The percussions are delivered to perfection, rhythmically controlling the music and making it as intense as it certainly is, and their artificial sound the domineering contributor to the overall modern, mechanic, almost industrial feel to the demo. There is also a lot of additional programming work from samples, synthesisers, keyboards and the like which also add to the melancholy and atmosphere of the music overwhelmingly, as do the glum lyrics, which are thankfully not too overbearing but are emotive and appropriate nonetheless (they too are somewhat unique, and make for some interesting doomy song titles). ‘Portraits of Regret’ is very difficult to define, and despite the pulverising outbursts of speed and mostly upbeat, (doomy) mid-tempo pace to the music, it is still undoubtedly a doom-metal release in my view, largely down to the ambiences and feelings it creates. From there the sub-genre of this demo is anyone’s guess, but I would suppose that the CD would certainly appeal to the more mellow, modern, gothic/atmospheric doom fan, though that is not to say the music is not heavy, it can be intensely crushing, brutal and severe in fact. My favourite song is the first track, a mixture of an intro and the song ‘Dark Patterns’, an almost unbearably intenseand atmospheric song, however, no track is really better than the other on this CD, it’s just one utterly magnificent, atmospheric, bleak, intense opus, filled with passion, pain, desperation, and sorrow, and most reassuringly of all great originality. Process of Guilt are certainly onto something here, and this is one of the best new band’s I’ve heard in a long time...and with only a few years of existence under their belts, and this only their debut release, they have a lot of promise. A fantastic young band to definitely watch out for! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chronicles of Chaos (4 out of 5) by: Pedro Azevedo (article submitted 3/31/2003) Here's one of those really good demos that every once in a (long) while seem to come out of nowhere -- or in this case, out of my own country, Portugal. Process of Guilt are decidedly a doom band, but not in a very conventional way at all. This half-hour long demo CD carries a certain hint of _Brave Murder Day_ era Katatonia, even if -- oddly enough -- it doesn't sound much like that album. Rather, it is the mood that seems to bear some similarity to _Brave Murder Day_, which in my books is a good sign. Sound-wise, they also remind me vaguely of a less technological, less black-oriented Void of Silence. Some spoken word passages, well done and varied artificial vocal distortion, clever use of discrete samples and sound manipulation, interesting guitar touches... a lot of different attributes play their part in making _Portraits of Regret_ stand apart from the crowd. Atomspheric, bleak and with a strong emotional thread running through it, _Portraits of Regret_ shows an intelligent approach to doom metal, and one I would be very interested to see realized on a full-length disc. There's still a few bits and pieces that Process of Guilt need to improve, mainly on the more aggressive passages (get a thicker guitar sound and either a human drummer or a stronger artificial drum sound), but overall this is among the best demos I've heard in a very long while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feedback Magazine #1 7/10 (Demo of the month) by: Fernando Reis Existe uma qualquer afinidade dos países do sul da Europa com as sonoridades mais melancólicas e lentas do Doom. Não basta olharmos para o sucesso que os Desire têm, quer a nível nacional quer a nível internacional - porque o começam a ter. Temos que nos lembrar também do que interessantes projectos como Obscenus, Requiem Laus ou Drowning Tears fizeram no panorama nacional. E, coincidência das coincidências, todos esses projectos são insulares, onde o sentido de isolamento - que propencia pensamentos mais melancólliicos e benificia o próprio acto de reflexão - é maior e mais vincado. Desta vez o projecto vem do Alentejo - outra região portuguesa conhecida pelo isolamento - e sim, a sonoridade é Doom/Death melancólico. Com a secção rítimica de Karseron, os Process Of Guilt não nasceram exactamente do nada, sendo que quase todos os elementos têm já alguma experiência na cena. Isso nota-se, e esta primeira demo está ao nível do que de melhor os três projectos insulares que mencionei atrás poderiam vir a fazer. Death/Doom com voz masculina limpa e agressiva, com alguns (raros) traços góticos a nível de guitarra e ritmos e algumas boas ideias. Existem ainda algumas arestas para limar, e a meu ver algumas das faixas de «Portraits Of Regret» poderiam até funcionar melhor com uma roupagem mais simples a nível de composição. No entanto, não nos esqueçamos que esta é uma demo de estreia. Como tal, há que dar os parabéns aos Process Of Guilt e pôr os olhos neles, para ver onde nos poderão levar no futuro. A demo é copiada e a capa impressa caseiramente, mas a apresentação está muito aceitável e atractiva. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Metal Observer (9 out of 10) by: Niall (Online April 15, 2003) Jesus! Now this demo was a surprise, first of all because it's a Portuguese band who decided to send it my way and secondly because its so damn good. Bear in mind I'm sitting down to listen to this after hearing the three promo songs from KATATONIA's forthcoming "Viva Emptiness" album and after the disappointment I felt there this has really lifted me up and transported me back to the good old days when KATATONIA were actually a good band. PROCESS OF GUILT play a style which blends all three of KATATONIA's musical periods together and make it their own. This is "Dance Of December Souls" meets "Brave Murder Day" with a little bit of "Discouraged Ones" thrown in, and that ladies and gentlemen is damn good. Unfortunately the let down factor for the band comes in the shape of the vocals. The growls are fierce, brutal, relentless and unfortunately completely in the wrong place. These vocals are a little to brutal for the music yet even this does not detract from the music too much. The riffs are all well written and in each and every section they succeed in making me feel their sadness, its just a pity that my sadness when listening to this is sadness at what KATATONIA have become as this album by unknown PROCESS OF GUILT easily surpasses KATATONIA's previous full length release (and going by what I've heard from "Viva Emptiness" this is better than that also, this is a sad day for Metal indeed).

Location Évora, Évora - Portugal

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