Description
Black vinyl with lyric insert and poster
On their sophomore full-length Sydney, Australia traditional heavy metal band Convent Guilt further render their homage to NWOBHM’s darkly approachable side during the initial late-70’s boon of hard rock informed heavy metal. This pre-80’s sound often had subtle influences from the 77 wave of British punk rock beyond the Queen-isms and Priest influences; On Diamond Cut Diamond Convent Guilt essentially follow this approach with a slight UK ’82 sense of melody for an all-too-real resemblance of old and obscure dirtbag rock records of that era. The epic jams of Trespass, the sinister whip of Angel Witch and the jogging-in-place stomps of early Quartz (see: Stand Up And Fight) all inform the language of Convent Guilt. As with any backwards reaching old school metal album Convent Guilt are swatting at you from an obscure epicurean driver’s seat with their influences and there is some sense that they are relishing in someone else’s recipe in recreating the mood and sonic semblance of that late 70’s sound. What sets the experience apart comes from a subtle capture of the uncharted waters feeling of early NWOBHM that didn’t make it far into the 80’s. There might be some need to compare this melody driven style to groups like Borrowed Time or Johnny Touch but Convent Guilt are not shredders nor do they veer into power metal territory at all. Trespass One Of These Days single is a great initial reference point for Convent Guilt‘s sound but a closer look at early Angel Witch and mid-80’s Chariot serve as better sphere of influence for the guitar work found on Diamond Cut Diamond. Without a love for that heavy rock influenced earliest wave of the NWOBHM movement it’ll likely come across as a melodic and flighty traditional heavy metal record. I would generally recommend it for this with interest in the fine niche that the band set themselves in.
Track list:
1. Howling Vengeance
2. Born To Trouble
3. Powder Dry
4. Scream Out Your Heart
5. Bonnie And Clyde
6. Thief In The Night
7. Foxes Run