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Readers' Choice

HOUR OF PENANCE: THE ITALIAN BEHEMOTH?

 Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 2:30pm by

MetalSucks Maniac Dan Wolfson tipped us off to the existence of Hour of Penance, who he described as an “Italian Behemoth.” And, sure enough, this band sounds more or less exactly like Behemoth. In fact, I take exception to Dan’s assertion that HOP vocalist Francesco Paoli “screams waaayyy better than Nergal;” they really sound pretty much identical to me. Not to sound like my mom or anything… I just can’t hear the difference.

If you llllllooovvvvve Behemoth and can’t wait for their next album, check out Hour of Penance here. The chime in below with your thoughts on whether or not Paoli > Nergal.

-AR

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  • builtforsin

    http://www.myspace.com/fleshgodapocalypse

    Is another band consisting of members of Hours of Penance. I read an article once describing Fleshgod Apocalypse like the classical version of Hours of Penance.

    Hour of Penance is straight up tech deathish? Fast, technical, and technical.

    Fleshgod is like the melodic version. Still amazing musicianship, but better songs IMO.

    • iolanach

      Didn’t know the connection between Hours of Penance and Fleshgod. Two great bands!

      • perkele

        francesco paoli is in both bands, he sings for HOP and plays drums for FA. I think the new song Paradogma does sound a bit like behemoth, but Vile Conception does not sound like behemoth at all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jay-See/726690352 Jay See

    I’ve been listening to these guys for a while now. All of their albums are great. I wouldn’t say they sound exactly like Behemoth (not much black metal influence in the sound as opposed to Krisiun-style tech death; just my opinion, though!)

    • jtquake

      I agree. I feel that they are quite different from Behemoth.

      Behemoth often has slower, heavier riffs with atmospheric and black metal influences.

      Hour of Penance is more like technical death grind played at hyper speed.

      Both good, though.

  • iolanach

    Behemoth? Not seeing it really. Where’s the black metal?

    Besides, they’re much more creative and dynamic then Behemoth.

  • Fong Chung

    This band is more like the Italian Decapitated. WAAAAY more better than Behemoth and Krisiun

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Zach-Gates/14209777 Zach Gates

    These guys are very good.

    Behemoth? Not hardly. They’re more straight up death metal than blackened death. About the only reason to say they’re Behemoth-like is that the vocalist sound a little like Nergal (although not nearly as good, IMO). Their songs lack the “epic” quality.

    Also that logo is HORRIBLE.

  • Elpants

    How in the fuck do they, in any way, sound like Behemoth?

  • stan47islav

    I agree with the people that say they are not like behemoth. I love behemoth but the only resemblance I hear is the vocals.

    • bretton

      the biggest difference I hear is the vocals… HOP’s are lower pitched and less layered. the music is a lot like the stuff from demigod

  • thegreatsatan

    dethklok yes, behemoth no

  • Tim

    Nothing like Behemoth. Closer in spirit to Krisiun or Rebaelliun.

    The Vile Conception is one of the best blasting death metal records ever. Holy fucking fast. HOP shit on Behemoth and Nergal’s faux artiness.

  • Tonberry

    Hay, I like it.

    Also, lol@ the drummer’s half hearted metal claw hand thing on the myspace. It looks like he’s holding an invisible water bottle. Or maybe he’s just doing that thing Italians do when they talk.

  • Tj

    I honestly don’t think that these guys sound anything like behemoth, For 1 these guys are creative and good, and for 2 well, the songs don’t come off as something a 14 year who likes lord of the rings too much would right. Aside from my Behemoth bashing, in my honest and humble opinion this is one of the single best new deathmetal bands out there right now.

  • Bt

    What a stupid title for an article – Hour of pennance are nothing like Behemoth. AT least not The Vile conception.

    HOP have more brutal death sound, look at the label they are on Unique Leader.

    Again what a stupid article.

  • Utmu

    I just downloaded a song from a link on DMI from their upcoming album a day or two ago, simply because the of artwork. It took a couple listens but it grew on me, and I love it now, and I can’t wait until their next release.

    • Utmu

      I also don’t think they sound like Behemoth, in fact the only thing that did make me think of Behemoth while listening to them was the speed and complexity of the drummer, whom reminded me of Inferno.

      • Emil

        Totally agree, I think the biggest resemblance to Behemoth is the drumming. I can think of a whole bunch of prolific singers more similar to this guy than Nergal.

  • riotact666

    this band is ace

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Wolfson/557092638 Dan Wolfson

    MY FUCKIN BAD

    at least you know about them now

  • Swissdude

    They have a lot of similarities ilooking at the basic components of theirt sound, but in my opinion the songwriting of behemoth is far superior. It has more diversity, Behemoth have epic, atmospheric black metal parts, slow grooving parts, interesting accoustic intermezzos, the “growl chorals” AND speedy, technical Death Metal parts. All in all, the songwriting’s just more dynamic. Still, Hour of Penace is a good Band (Even though I also think Krisiun is better, because they also improved their songwriting over time, including some nice groovy parts into their trademark highspeed death metal). Also, I prefer Fleshgod Apocalypse over Hour of Penace, both bands slay conisering speed and technicality, but fleshgod has also nice melodies and the classical elements/samples just add to the overall picture. So again, a more diverse songwriting, which is for me personally the alpha and omega for good technical death metal. Also, I have seen both of them live, and Fleshgod are superior in their performance in my opinion. Krisun is even better live, and Behemoth slays them all. A great live Band, each time I see them it is almost a metaphysical experience.

  • Ben

    Behemoth influenced? Yes. Do they still have their own sound? Very much yes.

    I like them, alot (partly because I’m partial to all bands from my ancestral country). I would say they are like if Behemoth, Deicide, Sceptic Flesh and Vader with just a tiny bit of Hate Eternal for good flavor.

    I think they got their own sound going on IMHO.

  • meat mincing machine

    Nergal is magnitudes better, and also I’m not hearing much of a similarity to Behemoth

  • Fozzy Rorschach

    I’ve been listening to HOP for two years and they do not sound anything like Behemoth.

  • ThisIsNecessary

    This comparison fails hard. Still both good bands though…but I would much sooner compare Hate with Behemoth more than anybody else. Even down to the look of them, but the riffs are very similar throughout their whole latest cd.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-6VyYrMnlw&feature=related

  • Brendan

    Holy shit, this is good. MOAR PLZ.

  • Scourge441

    The Vile Conception was a pretty sweet album.

  • morier

    Sounds more like Nile if you ask me, just not as fast.

  • Stwelch20

    i think hour of penance has far more complicated guitar work than behemoth.