“Suffering is a Gift”—new EP by eclectic hardcore band Portrayal of Guilt

I have no complaints when it comes to computers and algorithms picking out my music. Again and again Spotify throws excellent stuff in my path that I might have missed (or in the case of Botch completely slept on for 20 years). Portrayal of Guilt is one such example. Here’s a band that I hadn’t even heard of all that long ago to one that’s got me saying, “Oh shit, new POG!”. Which is exactly what happened to today.

Suffering is a Gift is a new 1-sided 12” on Closed Casket Activities. The 6 songs on this EP clock in at just under 10 minutes and the band continue to draw from a variety of influences like screamo, black metal and grind core but this EP feels more like a singular statement than last year’s Let Pain Be Your Guide LP. I think I’m way off on this description but the closest thing I can come up with is a blackened Angel Hair (early 90s Gravity band that were fast and heavy without any traces of metal and arty without delving into pretension. As for the black metal feel: blast beats, banshee-like reverb-heavy screaming and the, I don’t know what to call it, “shrill” recording?). I’ve listened to this at least 5 times in the last 2 days and its definitely on my top 10 of 2019.

Stream it on Spotify below or check it out here: Bandcamp | Closed Casket Activities | Deathwish

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Do you fuck with Portrayal of Guilt? How do you think this one holds up? Comment below!