Penitent - Beyond the Whispering Echoes

Norwegian darkwave pioneers Penitent have released a new video for their track, "Beyond the Whispering Echoes", as the band prepares for the anticipated release of "Melancholia Redux", a profound re-imagining of their 1996 Cold Meat Industry debut, "Melancholia".

Watch the video premiered via Side-Line Magazine.

“Beyond the Whispering Echoes” is now also streaming via all digital platforms, along with the single and video for “The Path of the Shadows” (YouTube)

Set for release on 30 May 2025 via The Circle Music, "Melancholia Redux" is far more than a simple re-recording. Almost every element has been transformed, featuring entirely re-recorded music and rewritten English lyrics, offering fans a fresh and intense perspective on this seminal work.

Regarding the new video, Karsten Hamre commented, "Creating the visual counterpart for 'Beyond the Whispering Echoes' allowed us to delve deeper into the atmosphere of 'Melancholia Redux'. The video aims to reflect the introspective and melancholic journey of the track, bringing the re-imagined lyrics and music to life in a new dimension."

"Melancholia Redux" will be available in a variety of exclusive formats, designed to appeal to collectors and audiophiles:

Digi CD with 12-page booklet: (Limited to 500 copies)

Clear & Black Splatter LP with Printed Inner Sleeve: (Limited to 250 copies)

Red & Turquoise Splatter LP with Printed Inner Sleeve: (Limited to 150 copies)

Luxurious LP/CD Box with Magnet Embossed in Gold: (Limited to 100 copies)

Exclusive T-shirt

Exclusive Zip Hoodie

Pre-order now via The Circle Music.

As previously announced, the release of "Melancholia Redux" marks the beginning of Penitent’s collaboration with The Circle Music. Plans are already in motion for further "Redux" versions of their extensive back catalogue, including "The Beauty of Pain", "As Life Fades Away", and "Roses by Chaos Spawned", alongside exciting new, never-before-released material.

For over three decades, Karsten Hamre, the heart and soul of Penitent, has consistently crafted dark and eerie melodies to accompany his introspective poetry. His unique personal journey has fuelled a creative output that feels revitalised, like a complete restart, with plans for re-recorded back catalogue material and new compositions.

Penitent has been a significant name in dark music since the early 1990s, exploring themes of loss, pain, and melancholy through their distinctive musical art. Founded by Karsten Hamre in 1994 to combine his "mad poetry" with music, the band released their debut album "Melancholia" in 1996 on Cold Meat Industry, quickly establishing their unique sound of sad and somber synth music with spoken word. Over the years, Penitent has evolved, incorporating elements of neo-classical, martial industrial, and more, always driven by Hamre's artistic vision.