Poison Church – Resurrection of The End Times

Poison Church’s Resurrection of End Times is one of the more interesting records to drop in the second half of last year. I was made aware of the band a couple of years ago when the vocalist told me they have roots in Pakistan and that they have a song in Urdu, more about that song later. Growing up as a punk in Pakistan, I used to love classic Finnish punk bands like Tampere SS, Terveet Kädet, Riistetyt, etc., so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review a Finnish punk band with a Pakistani-origin singer.

The band, unlike the classic works of those aforementioned groups, blends elements of many styles within the darker realms of punk. However, it does not come off as disjointed at all, nor do they seem overly conscious of the various references scattered throughout the record. There are quite enjoyable sonic tremors of anarcho-punk, deathrock, noise rock, post-punk, and even old-school heavy metal evident throughout this record, tied together through some excellent musicianship and an absolutely ferocious vocal performance.

The production on Resurrection of End Times serves that purpose very well. Crunchy and punchy, yet still clear enough, which is especially good for the bass as it really shines at many points throughout the record. Speaking of which, the musicianship on display is extremely consistent. The rhythm section hammers through with utmost confidence, creating a solid atmosphere on which the guitars further build with both pummeling aggression and an underlying melodic intent. The songwriting is structured in a way that builds and releases tension very effectively and gives me a constant feeling of catharsis, something I imagine serves them really well in a live setting.

There are several highlights on this record, though I would recommend listening to the album front to back rather than focusing on individual tracks, as the tracklisting places every song exactly where it needs to be, strengthening that cathartic feeling mentioned earlier. Regardless, some of my favorites include the opener “Kala Heera” (“Black Diamond” in Urdu), which begins in a manner reminiscent of Killing Joke’s evil twin brother before boiling into absolutely face-melting aggression, showcasing the darker aspects of the record. “Vengeance,” on the other hand, evokes memories of Poison Idea during their late ’80s and early ’90s phase, with really catchy riffs and vocal lines. Then you also have tracks like “Filth Hounds,” which feels a bit like if ’70s-era Judas Priest listened to ’80s post-punk after attending a hardcore show. I understand that’s probably a strange reference to some people, but trust me on that, haha.

“Sudden Death” is super fun and the bass immediately caught my ear, while “Going to Bed” could also be one of the best tracks featured on the album. It combines a desolate atmosphere with very noticeable nods to noise rock and anarcho-punk at the same time. “Ignorance” moves further along the post-punk, noise rock and hardcore punk axis, continuing to unsettle the completely willing listener, at least in my case. “Falling” offers a more melodic approach without sacrificing its core aggression. Ultimately, that makes it one of the most memorable tracks on the album because of how seamlessly it blends both sides. The closing track, which is also the title track of the album, is an absolutely glorious ending to the record that words probably won’t do justice to.

In the end, Resurrection of End Times is a well-crafted punk record that manages to scratch several very specific auditory itches at the same time. Indeed, the record seems to reference Rudimentary Peni, Amebix, Killing Joke, and Poison Idea, sometimes simultaneously. A solid record, and I hope to catch them live someday!