Confess releases their third album. At All Costs, Revenge, is so brutal that the Iranian government sentenced them to 74 lashes, which is probably—horrifyingly—a better advertisement for it than any promotional materials their record label could cook up.
Iranian authorities detained Nikan Khosravi, a Confess guitarist and singer, and Arash Ilkhani, his fellow bandmate. They were both charged with anti-government propagandism and blasphemy for their band’s anti-religious lyrics. Khosravi, who was awaiting trial in Tehran’s Evin prison, spent 18 months there. He and three others were placed in solitary detention.
Khosravi & Ilkhani fled home after being found guilty of the crime and were sentenced to six year imprisonment. The whole experience was channeled into their third album. Confess’ anger, in an industry where aggression can sometimes be an affectation or escape dream, is direct, personal, and political. Khosravi’s screams in “Phoenix Rises”, the third album track, is not an act of defiance. “They can’t ficking break me for being who I am.”
When “Phoenix Rises” was first released, the Revolutionary Tribunal of Tehran gave it a poor review and increased Khosravi’s and Ilkhani’s sentences together to 14 years and 74 lashes each.
Confess falls somewhere between the American new wave, American groove metal, or American metalcore. You can expect a mix of hardcore vocals and riffs at a fast pace. There’s a lot to love here if you like Lamb of God and Sepultura. The album was produced by Gene “Machine”, a Clutch collaborator, and Lamb of God.
Khosravi’s fury is a sharp contrast to the rest of the story and grabs your attention right from the beginning. It is clear why the mullahs are scared.