Closure in Moscow
The Penance and the Patience

Bird’s Robe Records keeps reissuing albums for their anniversary, and for a band like Closure in Moscow that can be a great hit. The Australian band is looking to release a new album next year, so what better way than seeing their previous albums reissued? I reviewed their album First Temple earlier and now I take on their debut The Penance and the Patience. Unlike First Temple this hasn’t received a new cover, but it matters less in this case as this had a decent cover to begin with. It comes in Vinyl for the first time and it contains six tracks, but will it be any good marketing for their next album?

You would expect progressive rock to be about the moment in some sense, but like most genres it is just as static and that can be beneficial for an album that was released well over a decade ago. It has aged well; the sound still feels pretty fresh and the release itself is more dynamic and interesting than the First Temple album that was released after this one. It is an EP with quite short playing time, and pretty strong variation and dynamics – good vocals and good production are other aspects talking in its favour.

It is good, it starts a bit uninteresting but then it takes off from the third track and forward. The best track is the third track Breathing Underwater where they make really good use of female vocals, it is an excellent track. The other standout track is the ending Jewels for Eyes that leaves you on a very positive notes, that becomes even more obvious when playing the album on repeat as I have done quite a few times, it feels like nothing happens after the end, not until the third track spice it up.

I find The Penance and the Patience to be a great release, and you don’t need much patience to learn to enjoy its qualities. It is a good way to market themselves to show off this gem from their past. They didn’t follow it up with anything as great, but this raises curiosity and I feel that I would like to check out the rest of the band’s short discography. I recommend this one, it is well worth your time and patience.

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