The band is fronted by Soren Mourne (cello, bass, and vocals), Etienne Flinn (vocals and guitars), and Julia Geaman (drums), Jessica Yang (guitars) and, Dallas Alice (keyboards). The debut entry set a high standard for the band and undoubtedly was one of the prominent releases in 2023. The outstanding performance of the sweeping cello carries you on velvet wings to the dark ages of the Gothic period.

The music is draped with ominous keyboards and haunting doom riffs, conjuring a gloomy atmosphere throughout the eight songs. The production keeps the quality of the instruments high and highlights the drums and, the bass lines. The atmospheric arrangement is opulent, textured, and rich to keep the gloomy mood encased in gothic splendor on the opening track “Incarnadine”, the funeral hymn proceeds solemnly with the crushing riffs providing a backdrop for the lamenting vocals of Soren Mourne.

“In Penitence and Ruin” is a gothic doom album at its finest, the cadence of the songs is dominated by dismal, tolling riffs and these crestfallen moments provide a bleak sense of darkness on the following song “A Wound Unhealing”. The grim shrieks of Etienne Flinn play an effective role on the album and paired with lead guitar melodies that add a sense of vibrancy. Tribunal’s music manifests a unique trademark that harkens back to the forgotten era of gothic doom, and opens gateways to eternal tragedy.

The guitars are as heavy as the tolling bells of doom and drenched in an old-fashioned requiem, and blend blissful overtures with gothic soundscapes. It is impossible not to appreciate the doleful and melancholic downpour of the thrilling atmosphere in the opening moments of “Angel of Mercy”, the melodic settings of the guitar leave a lasting impression that gives the cello a spatial presence. The grim vocals maintain a dark mood and each song has a perfect length, peaking on aggression and semi-orchestral texture allowing for the jarring riffs and the pounding drums to be highlighted.

The dueling vocals soar on “The Sword of the Slain” with the heavy guitars and leave you captured by the flawless songwriting that reveal the emotional core of these songs which blends gothic-styled keyboards. The gloomy poetry and the lumbering riffs add weight to create a dark aura, despite the songs are not played in slow tempos, the musical palette draws a grim landscape tinted by desolate melodies and makes you wander through the gloomy scenery.

Tribunal binds a perfect balance between the tempos and the caressing side of gothic-doom, the elaborate work of the guitar melodies when combined with the cello deepens the theatrical quality of the instruments. The brooding display of the guitar melody builds grippingly into “The Penitent”. The musicianship keeps things as intriguing as the slow crushing doom riffs oozing out somber ambiance; the music seems to wander through a thick dark mist.

Tracks like “Armoured in Shadow” and “…And the Thorn-Choked Flowers Grow” are among the highlights of the album and stretched to epic proportions, with the guitar riffs imparting a feeling of sorrow that has a sentimental and gothic element. The orchestral crescendo that paints ashen cloudy skies is accompanied by blackish vocals of Etienne Flinn and a moving cello that tends to creep into a nocturnal ambiance. The slow lumbering riffs immerse you in the unveiled beauty of the permeating grief.

Tribunal embodies a dreadful lament on the sophomore, even though the pacing of the songs has plenty of slow evocative moments, it’s the guitar setting that makes them sound heavy and layered with the tapestry of female vocals. “Between the Sea and Stars” opens with a beautiful cello section that contrasts with the piano and vocals of Soren Mourne are beautifully layered to the dramatic guitar melodies wielding a poem of majesty and the moving cello which dramatically cascades.

The pounding drums and subtle rhythm make it yet another great track on this album which has less emphasis on the dirge-like riffs, but overall, the whole music expels the sorrow and brings a sense of hope to the graceful music.

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