ALBUM REVIEW: ‘…BEGINNING OF THE END’ BY PORTRAYAL OF GUILT
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
Release date 24 April 2026
‘…Beginning Of The End’ commences with the instrumental track ‘Backstabber’. The reliance on a title, lack of vocals, and a dark brooding sonic intensity within the music does set the tone and idea of the album to come. The album will be looking at the socio-political backstabbers, as the lyrics ask, is this “human progress”? And “what are you prepared to sacrifice” as you look at the world through your “rose coloured glasses”.
The Texan band Portrayal of Guilt comprises of Matt King on vocals and guitar, Alex Stanfield on bass, and James Beveridge on drums. It appears the band is content to throw anything musical into the mix (Black Metal, Screamo, Hardcore, Industrial, Noise Rock, and electronica) before the three of them squat over the cauldron and add their own unifying dose of religious imagery, commentary, and darkness. I guess this can be expected from a band who released an album in 2021 called ‘Christfucker’ and then in 2023 released an EP called ‘Devil Music’ in a very Christian leaning state, are you looking for trouble? Yes! But in essence the band truly understands the frightening nature of Christianity and Biblical ideas and have clearly explored them in these 11 songs.
‘…Beginning Of The End’ does encompass a dark sonic groove and the avant-garde. The album is heavy, its soundscape with tinges of light hypnotic melody lines creeping in, but it’s the raw and intense lyrics that make this album. The huge bassline that starts ‘Human Terror’ with the creepy light guitar squeals is unsettling until the song explodes into a heavy promise of “the second coming” and what will you sacrifice for that – it might be scarier than you think – the “grace of God”. The short track ‘Heaven’s Gate’ detonates with heavy and screamcore vocals. It’s big, dark and aggressive and probably what being at heaven’s gate might be like. The heavy doom-laden ‘Under Siege’ is how you might be feeling about it all as you digest the amazing ideas and sonic soundscape of this album. There is no “escape”.
There is a break in the bass-heavy but lighter ‘Ecstasy’. The song has a hypnotic tone with a lovely guitar riff melody that chimes away. It is still intense, and heavy with guttural vocals. However, it’s the beautiful clean singing voice that spins the song and makes it an album highlight. In ‘Death From Above’, the drums pound, but there is a haunting quality to the contrast in the two heavy vocals layering against each other.
The female vocals in ‘God Will Never Hear Me’ are like a soft “lost” lyrical prayer as the bassline thrums underneath with dark intent. The hard vocal fry vocals contrast that softness with devastating effect as the idea that God is deaf and dumb to human needs, “God forgives” – ‘Amen’. Then, ‘Chamber of Misery Pt IV (with Slim Guerilla)’ is a short, dark song with a rapped vocal. It’s a short but effective break, but reinforces the themes of the people being ripped off and betrayed.
It is followed by the guitar-heavy and raw bassline riffs of ‘Total Black’. The deep guttural screams of “holy fire burns” the “skin” and lament the “eternal sin”. The thunderous drums are astonishing as the song spirals out of control. The song ‘Object Pain’ follows, and the pulsing electric guitar riff is a relief from the darkness as the melody chimes into a dark ballad as the lyrics reflect the “tired” slave-like mentality of being subject to feelings, inside and outside, of toxic “misery” and “despair”, “a sacrifice of desire”.
The album ends with ‘The Last Judgement’ and it’s a blast of heaviness and intensity that fans of headbanging soundscapes will love. Machine-gun fired bass, drums and dark screamed vocals set the dial to 11. It is certainly a way to finish the album as the strummed guitars, bass, and vocals welcome you home. But is it heaven or hell? Angels (the frightening kind) live in both realms. Pick your poison, is it the ‘… Beginning Of The End’, take a listen as there is a lot to think about and appreciate in this album. A record for our times!
