Origin: Spain
Formed: 2012 (as Y3K: 2001–2012)
Location: Valencia, Valencian Community
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Status: Unknown
Label: Pitch Black Records
Themes: Blasphemy, Mythology, Occult
Retribution is a symphonic black metal band from Valencia, rising in 2012 from the ashes of their previous incarnation, Y3K. While Y3K explored a hybrid of extreme metal with experimental and industrial touches, Retribution sharpened the focus toward a darker, more orchestral black metal identity. Their sound merges fast, aggressive riffing with grandiose symphonic arrangements, choral textures, and a theatrical vocal presence, placing them within the lineage of European symphonic black metal while retaining a distinctly Spanish character.
Their debut EP Opus Serpentis (Prologue) (2013) introduced the band’s new direction: dense orchestration, occult‑themed lyrics, and a dramatic interplay between harsh and operatic vocals. The EP quickly circulated through the underground, drawing attention for its ambitious arrangements and the band’s ability to balance melody with ferocity.
In 2014, Retribution released their first full‑length album, Corpus Antichristi Y3K, a conceptual work that bridged their past and present identities. The album expanded on the themes of blasphemy, esoteric mythology, and apocalyptic visions, supported by layered keyboards, sharp guitar work, and a dual‑vocal approach that added depth and theatricality. Critics within the underground praised the album for its intensity, its symphonic scope, and its polished production—one of the strongest releases from a Spanish symphonic black metal act of the decade. Two tracks from the album, “Opus Serpentis” and “Corpus Antichristi Y3K,” were featured on the Pitch Black Records 2014 Sampler, helping the band reach a wider international audience.
Retribution’s lineup included musicians with backgrounds in well‑known Spanish metal acts, particularly Opera Magna, which contributed to the band’s technical proficiency and orchestral sensibilities. Their music stood out for its blend of classical influences, occult atmospheres, and relentless black metal aggression.
After 2014, the band’s activity became unclear, with no confirmed releases or official statements. Their status remains unknown, but their recorded output continues to be regarded as a notable entry in Spain’s symphonic black metal landscape.