In This House of Mourning Announce Debut Album Penance; Premiere “The Path Worn Down”
There’s so much death-doom out there right now, it can be hard to remember how completely oppressive the sound can be when intentionally pushed in that direction. On that happy note, big welcome to In This House of Mourning — also stylized all-lowercase: in this house of mourning — who will mark their first release with the three-song offering Penance on Feb. 28. I’m not sure if you’d call it an EP or an LP, but I’m more certain that it doesn’t matter nearly as much as the grueling affect of opening cut “The Path Worn Down,” which you can hear premiering below.
Some out there might recall Ben Ianuzzi‘s work in the plenty-o’-noise sludgemakers Mountain God. If not, uh, they were killer, you should see if you can track it down. Anyhow, In This House of Mourning is Ianuzzi‘s new vehicle for plunging into aural melancholia/miseries, and you’ll find that the comparisons tossed out with the early-’90s Peacevilleian vibe isn’t misplaced. Also nice to see Evoken get a little love, always.
You’ll find more on the themes and ideas behind Penance in the background info under the player below, from which you can immerse yourself in “The Path Worn Down.” Take a deep breath before you go.
And please enjoy:
In This House of Mourning – Penance
New York based extreme metal band, in this house of mourning, is proud to announce its debut release, penance, recorded with engineer Aady Pandit at the Underground Lair in Queens, NY.
The brainchild of Ben Ianuzzi, formerly of doom/sludge act Mountain God, “in this house of mourning” is a band devoted to the polar fringes of metal, embracing a dynamic of paying homage to the early 90’s, and pushing the envelope of what heavy music can be within the modern scene. Over the course of 24 intense minutes, songs “The Path Worn Down”, “Judgement”, and album closer, “Cruel Death”, foster an atmosphere that will draw listeners in, pummeling them with downtuned, full sounding chord progressions, short, intense moments of furious riffing, and ambiance provided by synths, organs, and melodic guitars. Listeners will recognize that penance is rooted in a foundation of funeral doom, death/doom, and even shoegaze. Artists such as My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Celtic Frost, Shape of Despair, Evoken, and My Bloody Valentine, served as influences and an inspiration for the band. That said, “in this house of mourning” is unique in its own right, pushing the boundaries of extreme music through textural layering and dynamic playing.
In an artistic sense, penance is focused on the hidden pain and suffering we deal with day in, and day out. So many fears and terrors have been exposed over the last few decades that it is hard to keep up with the trauma. Collectively, we have inherited a world in which political and cultural forces regularly tear at the fabric of what it means to be a united people. We’re weighed down and suffocated by the dirge of social media, and as a means of coping, people often, and willingly, expose an unreal version of themselves for all the world to see. For better or worse, people have learned to hide who they really are deep within the confines of our digital universe. penance is a reaction to this reality, and is meant to be a cathartic experience, with each listener provided the opportunity to release, let go, and immerse themselves in heaviness. Each track cuts directly to the point, unapologetically being as direct and confrontational as possible.
With future releases already in the works, “in this house of mourning” will continue to explore the different elements of heavy music, complete with undefined boundaries and a willingness to travel to wherever the music decides to go. There are no expectations beyond putting out music that is individualistic and a genuine representation of the band in that moment. Be on the lookout for news regarding the band!
Track Listing:
1) The Path Worn Down
2) Judgement
3) Cruel Death
Recorded by Aady Pandit
The Underground Lair
Queens, NY, 2021
Music, arrangements, and lyrics by B.I.
Musicians:
B.I.- guitars, bass, synths/organs
V.C- guitar
G.D- drums
J.A- vocals
A.P- synths, production
https://www.facebook.com/In-this-house-of-mourning-113629311239039
https://www.instagram.com/inthishouseofmourning/
https://soundcloud.com/ben-ianuzzi
