In case you were inclined to wonder about the roots of Austin, TX quartet Portrayal of Guilt’s music, one probably need look no further than the credits for their debut LP Let Pain Be Your Guide.  Contained therein, you would find Matt Michel, formerly of Majority Rule listed as producer, and you would also find that Chris Taylor of Pg. 99 and Pygmy Lush is responsible for the album’s art. Through that window, you could safely make some assumptions regarding what Portrayal of Guilt sounds like – in all likelihood conjuring for yourself a cacophony of grinding guitars punctuated with angularity, dissonance, and the occasional mid tempo groove.  In that assumption you would not be too far off base, but I am here to tell you that Portrayal of Guilt is one of those special bands that does not simply eat its influences and then summarily excrete a slightly faded version of them. Instead, they digest them, learn, and create a synthesis. Continue Reading