Tortured Conscience: Every Knee Shall Bow | Tortured Conscience…and Ears…
(2006 – Bombworks Records)
It’s been a few years since this release, but we can finally write the corresponding review, so the phrase “late but sure” is clearly applicable to the case. Curiously, this release of the band Tortured Conscience came almost with the end of this media, so that was the main reason for not having commented on it, and almost as if it were a coincidence, they release the second album when we start the machinery again. Paradoxes of destiny they say. Let’s move on to the album.
“Every Knee Shall Bow”, is the first full-length album by Tortured Conscience, a band that could be defined as Death Metal but whose path is definitely close to that of Napalm Death, that is to say, there are certain reminiscences to the genre known as Grindcore or even some who define the band’s style as Brutal Death Metal. The band was formed in coincidence with the new millennium as a duo, and after releasing demos or participating in different compilations, in 2006 they have the opportunity to release this first work containing 10 songs, which go at full speed, fury and making use and abuse of the blast beat as can be heard in songs like “Apostate Return” or “The Trial”, being the main feature of the album, a certain similarity between each song, although this is tempered, for example, in “The World Became Flesh”, with a different structure to the rest of the songs and a less accelerated tempo, with different variations in the vocals, always guttural as befits the style. The title track also has its own thing and is one of the best songs on this album along with “Modern Day Pharisees”. The inclusion, as a bonus track, of the song “Crucify” by the legendary Bloodgood, may sound nice, as a tribute, or even unnecessary. Each one will know how to judge about it.
It is a clear first album, with a sound more typical of a demo perhaps, with a modest production that does not manage to get all the juice to the band, which this time is presented as a trio, with Jeff Lenormand taking care of guitars, bass and vocals, completing the lineup John Gotelli on drums and Berto Salas on vocals. There is no information regarding different aspects of the recording, such as dates, places, producers, engineers, mixing, etc., which at least to us seems important, but when it can be noticed that the final sound, perhaps does not do justice to the potential of the band. The highlights of the mix are the vocals, clear and powerful at the end of the day.
Regarding the cover, the same is presented as original, overloaded with colors and as wanting to capture in a single image, different concepts that Tortured Conscience has wanted to overturn in it. The design of the inner envelope continues in the same line, but in the end, makes it a little difficult to read the lyrics of each song. The best thing is the photograph in the background with an old bible arranged between candles, and there is also a declaration of principles regarding the band’s faith. As we had mentioned, someone forgot to include data about the recording of the album.
As for the band’s lyrics, as you can imagine, they are about spiritual and Christian themes, with a very direct and unambiguous message.
With this first album, Tortured Conscience confirms what they have been insinuating since their demos and compilations, without surprising too much, remaining a little in debt in terms of production and sound in general. They have the songs, the potential too. They just need to exploit what the band has been hinting at.
It is impossible for us to know if this album is available in physical format, but you can find out at https://boonesoverstock.com or on the band’s official page on social networks.
