Angry Metal Guy
There have been many recent headlines about a brand new pope, but Warrior Pope from Bristol, UK are here to tell the story of a much older one. The Cadaver Synod refers to the ecclesiastical trial in the year 897 of Pope Formosus, who was already deceased beforehand. Pope Stephen VI, one of Formosus’ successors, ordered the exhumation and public trial of the corpse, after which the dead pope’s papacy was retroactively pronounced null. Stephen cut three fingers off of Formosus’ right hand, arranged for the body to be reburied in a foreigner’s grave, and later decided it should be dumped in the Tiber River instead. Now, the aptly titled A Morbid Parody of Justice seeks to do the proper justice to this macabre historical event that Formosus was denied long ago.
Whereas Warrior Pope’s earlier material was a quirky mixture of post-metal and stoner doom, A Morbid Parody of Justice is even more of a hodgepodge. There is still a prominent doom metal backbone wherein founder Oli Foxen continues to lay down hefty bass lines alongside longtime drummer Katya’s hypnotic rhythms. However, the framework within which they operate is more volatile now that the steady stoner grooves are diminished. The arrival of guitarist Jack Andrews and vocalist David Burke appears to have helped steer Warrior Pope into a less predictable post-hardcore direction, with muddy riffs and frenzied screams and growls. In addition, Burke’s trombone and Katya’s bowed cymbal scrapes and screeches open up new experimental avenues to enrich the overall atmosphere.
A Morbid Parody of Justice by Warrior Pope
But experimentation left unchecked can become detrimental. A Morbid Parody of Justice begins innocuously enough in “Pornocratia,” with soft bass notes increasing in complexity and tastefully enhanced by a somber trombone. Afterward, however, things unravel into a slurry of haphazard ideas. “Despoiling a Cloisters” dips its toes into slow, sludgy waters; “Twenty-Four Popes Later” is a one-minute hardcore punk whirlwind; and closing track “The Method” suddenly launches into belligerent post-hardcore. By far the most puzzling songwriting decision is the dedication of three minutes in “Experience Severing” to aimless guitar amp feedback and bowed cymbal screeches. This is possibly intended to symbolize the three fingers taken from Formosus but no matter the reason, these three cacophonous minutes last far too long. The transitions between tracks are well thought out, which eases the overall flow, but can’t overcome the fact that few individual songs sound like they belong on the same record.
That said, once one becomes accustomed to the stylistic whiplash, it’s evident that all members of Warrior Pope perform their roles well. Oli Foxen’s bass and Jack Andrews’ guitar have satisfying synergy, like the deft bass fills between viscous guitar chords (“Condemnations of Formosus”) or when they join forces to form imposing sound walls (“Rotten Sun”). Katya showcases her prowess with an extended drum solo at the beginning of “Experience Severing,” and her bowed cymbal technique works well as a subtle accompaniment to guest Mike Bishop’s (Gwar, Kepone) lively narration in “Bishop’s Take.” I’m most impressed by David Burke’s vocal versatility as he emits unhinged screams (“Despoiling a Cloisters,” “The Method”), fragile croons (“Strangled Legacy,” “Rotten Sun”), and everything in between. The album mix, however, plays no favorites and gives everyone equal space to shine, particularly in the doomier moments where Warrior Pope sound the most comfortable.
It’s undeniable that Warrior Pope are a creative bunch. This new lineup has loads of potential to reshape traditional metal conventions, but what A Morbid Parody of Justice needed was some of the focus and consistency from Warrior Pope’s prior work. This is a case where the individual components are stronger individually than as a unified whole. I imagine that mileage may vary widely, so anyone looking for something outside the box should give A Morbid Parody of Justice at least a curious spin. It endeared itself to me the more time I spent with it, warts and all. I’ll be rooting for Warrior Pope, and I look forward to whatever musical or historical concepts they decide to tackle next time.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Release
Websites: warriorpope.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/warriorpope
Releases Worldwide: May 30th, 2025
The post Warrior Pope – A Morbid Parody of Justice Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
Tue Jun 10 10:37:59 GMT 2025