Review: “God Forgives” by Guilt Trip

“‘God Forgives‘ is a culmination of progress and the embodiment of Guilt Trip‘s identity, whilst consciously trying to build on the style and songwriting on Severance we are yet embracing and moving with the sound we achieved on that record. The songs were written with one thing in mind: ‘Make it better’ and we hope we have hit the mark for every Guilt Trip fan out there.” ~ Jacob Valentine

When you’ve just completed an Australian tour with Justice For The Damned followed your first Asian shows in six years and you’ve got both European and American Festivals to look forward to not to mention a North American and Canadian tour with Malevolence and Chamber, where do you find the time to record new material?! It seems sleep is for the weak when it comes to Manchester Metallic Hardcore meets crossover Thrash five piece Guilt Trip because they have surprise released a new EP in “God Forgives“…

Encapsulating the sound that Guilt Trip created with their 2023 album “Severance” into a single bombastic tune, vocalist Jacob Valentine, bassist Lily Kilcoyne, drummer Tom Aimson alongside guitarists Jak Maden and Sam Baker unleash “Dirt“, an angry anthem that confirms the fire still burns. An intense burst of Metallic Hardcore with an infectious main riff, it finds Valentine blending his usual barked vocals with a couple of parts that have a catchy sing-a-long quality; the burst of rhythmic drive towards the end clearly designed for the two steppers to get involved when they perform it live. The energy of the piece is electrifying and that’s something that continues into “Angel Eyes“, another savage crossover anthem that hits like an unstoppable force of nature. Far from the ballad that the name might suggest, this one is pure fire, a whirlwind of percussive battery and barbed riffs slowing down just a fraction for a pummelling finale. A fresh mix of last years single “Burn” brings it up to the same level as the other two tracks, a little whammy bar action and giving off those Power Trip vibes after the staccato riff breaks have done the damage. The mid cut drop off to rise again makes for a powerful gut punch moment, the five piece harnessing all their rage so that Valentine can scream “Burn!” with the weight of a thousand voices. Fresh, fierce and exactly where they need to be, if these tracks are anything to go by then the next album is going to be crazy good [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Dirt
2. Angel Eyes
3. Burn

“God Forgives” by Guilt Trip is out 11th February 2026 via Roadrunner Records