This Pain Will Serve You
Artist: Confessions of a Traitor
Record Label: Facedown Records
Release Date: 16 May 2025
Metalcore has always been more than breakdowns and blast beats. It’s about pulling apart your inner world and screaming it out loud until someone else says, “Me too.” And that’s exactly what Confessions of a Traitor are doing: cutting through the noise with conviction, clarity, and emotion-driven heaviness. Hailing from London, UK, they deliver exactly what metalcore diehards crave on their new album, This Pain Will Serve You. Produced by the band and Justin Hill (SikTh, Heart Of A Coward), it’s a record built on razor-sharp riffs, fist-raising choruses, and breakdowns that hit like a freight train. While the band doesn’t venture far from genre conventions, they wear that choice with confidence, crafting a sound that’s familiar, ferocious, and fully dialled in to what their core audience thrives on.
From the very start, the band immediately makes their intentions clear with the powerful opening track, “Starve.” Tight, palm-muted riffing and accelerated tempo shifts establish the album’s tonal framework. The syncopated rhythm patterns and brisk tremolo picking immerse the listener straight into the sonic onslaught, setting a cohesive pace for what’s to follow.
The second track, “Fatal Frame,” is more than a song: it’s a scream against the suffocation of perfectionism. Musically, it reminds me of Currents, with their low-tuned, churning guitars paired with haunting ambience and a climax that feels like collapse and catharsis. “Doomsayer” is the darkest of the bunch—heavy, dissonant, apocalyptic. A modern parallel to Thornhill’s bleak soundscapes but with a sharper, metalcore edge. It’s nihilism with teeth.
Vocally, frontman Stephen MacConville delivers a compelling mix of throat-shredding screams and emotionally charged clean singing. His performances are not only technically strong but emotionally resonant, bringing the lyrics to life in a powerful way. In “Midnight Sun,” the ferocious guitar work of Jacob Brand and Jack Darnell underpins most of the track, offering tight, chugging riffs that transition seamlessly into expansive, melodic passages, especially during its catchy chorus. “Still Haunted,” one of their latest singles, hits you right in the feels. Perhaps the most emotionally resonant of their new work, this track explores the lingering grief and trauma of loss. The haunting vocal layering, ethereal atmospherics, and thunderous climax make it one of their most mature and artistically ambitious songs to date.
The second half of the record kicks off with a more restrained, atmospheric vibe, like the calm before the storm. “Love You Left Behind” leans into atmosphere, maintaining a moody, immersive tone across its entire runtime. This artistic choice not only sets it apart but reinforces its emotional resonance. The deliberate integration of clean passages further enriches the sonic landscape, lending the piece both texture and contrast that elevate its impact. On a similar level, “Noble Bloom” stands out not for its heaviness but its hope. A poetic exploration of self-growth and spiritual restoration, it’s the closest this band has come to post-hardcore introspection, evoking Being As An Ocean in tone while retaining that metalcore style. If “Doomsayer” is the dark, “Noble Bloom” is the light.
That’s when the band hits back even harder: teaming up with Mike Felker from Convictions, “Hail Mary” blends the strengths of both bands. It’s spiritually introspective, heavy with religious symbolism, and framed by moments of absolute sonic chaos balanced with fragile melody. Felker’s guest vocals fuse naturally with MacConville’s, creating a song that feels both massive and deeply personal. With “Let It Consume Me” and “The Sins I’m Yet to Answer For,” we get huge breakdowns, cinematic atmosphere, and vocals that sound like someone’s fighting for their life—in the best way. Guitars are dialled in with modern tightness, with tasteful low-end that never muddles the mix. Finally, the closing track, “Half Life,” combines brutal honesty with some of their heaviest riffs to date. Dark, crunchy, and ready to destroy your soul in the pit. Drummer Sebastian Olward throws in double-kick patterns under a relatively slow guitar riff, giving it a rolling, thunderous depth. It’s not just heavy—it’s cinematic.
This Pain Will Serve You is a testament to their growth, both as musicians and as individuals confronting the darker corners of the human experience. As they continue to evolve, one thing is clear: Confessions of a Traitor aren’t reinventing metalcore, but they serve as a powerful reminder of the genre’s true purpose. They’re here to connect, heal, and inspire.
To celebrate the release of their new record, the band will play an exclusive hometown show in London at The 229 on 31st May.