Apes are a grindcore band from Canada and this is their debut album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2017’s Lightless, with its hybrid blackened sludge/grind assault. It wasn’t until 2022 that we saw new material though, with the EP Lullabies for Eternal Sleep. Thankfully we haven’t had to wait quite as long for Apes’ second album, Penitence.
Penitence is a 24-minute ball of rage and fury. It’s an intricate display of brutality though, brought to us by three guitarists and a drummer who also deals in all things noise. The end result is nasty and foul in all of the right ways.
Bringing together sludge, hardcore, grindcore, and black metal into a focused package of hybrid brutality, Apes dominate with an iron fist. All of the band’s influences are fused together with malevolent ease, resulting in music that’s jagged and barbed. The noise elements that started to appear on their previous EP are now fully embedded, adding another layer to the trauma that Apes inflict. I also like that there are so many devastating riffs here that you can do yourself an injury just listening to the damn thing if you’re not careful.
The songs are dark, glisten with blackened hatred, and spew forth vitriolic venom. Crushing sludge tsunamis sit next to hideous grind savagery. Occasionally a dark melody or atmospheric mood will appear out of the storm of violence that the band unleash, before descending into a ferocity that’s barely restrained. It’s these touches that elevate Apes above many merely brutal acts. Apes do brutality very well, but it’s the emotive side of the music that allows them to tap into the sort of nightmare atmosphere and grim feeling that most grind-based bands aren’t able to access.
Penitence showcases an evolved Apes. Keeping their core of blistering blackened grindcore intact, while adding in a layer of melody and atmosphere is inspired. This is the apex of the Apes experience so far. I had high hopes for Penitence based on the band’s past work, but this has exceeded my expectations.
Apes rule.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 
Thanks for your review, I discovered this band thanks to you, they are fucking beasts, incredible work. Greetings from Bilbao.