Portrayal of Guilt

Formed in Austin, Texas, in 2017, Portrayal of Guilt sits at the crossroads of screamo, post-hardcore, black metal and grindcore, with a tense, highly abrasive approach where violent accelerations alternate with heavier, darker passages. The project began around Matt King (vocals and guitar) and drummer James Beveridge, originally joined by bassist Blake Given; all three came from the local hardcore scene, including Illustrations and Lyed. From the start the band released a self-titled EP in 2017 and quickly expanded their activity across American and European stages, sharing bills with groups such as Centuries, Birds in Row, Majority Rule and Pg. 99. Their debut album, Let Pain Be Your Guide (2018), established the basis for a sound often described as blackened screamo, where punk urgency meets textures close to extreme metal. Portrayal of Guilt followed with the EP Suffering is a Gift (2019) and the albums We Are Always Alone (2021), Christfucker (2021), Devil Music (2023) and Christfucker II (2024). Now a trio featuring Matt King, James Beveridge and bassist Alex Stanfield, Portrayal of Guilt continues to evolve between hardcore, noise and black metal in a direct, unadorned format.