If the band photo shows more candles than long-haired musicians dressed in black, then it is likely that this is a darker version of Heavy Metal. “In Penitence And Ruin”, the second full-length by Canada based TRIBUNAL, features Gothic or Doom Metal in a very traditional way. By that I mean the band abstains from gimmicks like long keyboard passages, soundtrack like elements or medieval instruments. At the end of the day the nine songs know how to convince through well thought-out songwriting without breaking the genre boundaries. Well, the cello is quite prominent, similar to the violin used by MY DYING BRIDE. These, along with the early works of PARADISE LOST, are the ones whose style can most easily serve as a blueprint. The vocals are shared by a male and female singer. And here, too, the band consistently avoids any clichés. So, this is not a “Beauty and the Beast” style vocal performance. No angelic clear vocals meet deep grunts, but rather two equal, expressive vocal performances that give the songs the necessary emotional depth. If you like well-crafted Gothic Metal that avoids stereotypes, you should definitely give this a listen. www.facebook.com/tribunaldoom, www.facebook.com/20buckspin