ALBUM REVIEW: Black Curse – Burning In Celestial Poison

Following one of the strongest debut records in recent memory, Blackened Death Metal contortionists Black Curse return with a new offering. Set for release via Sepulchral Voice Records on October 25th.

Without introduction, blazing guitars spew abyssal venom atop arcane drumming malice. Instantly the full bore ferocity of Black Curse can be felt through the body and mind as they rupture the spirit with their disdainful extremity. The savagery of the instruments meet those recognisably evil vocals that really set the debut apart from weaker contemporaries and altogether the mix feels just as destructive as ever. Blending the bestial elements with more expansive, cerebral Death Metal contortions, these acrobatic displays of perversity take the form of longer, more warped songs that even within the first chapter instilled a confidence in me that this second record would be a supreme exhibit of morbidity. Unafraid to change dynamics and speeds, Black Curse knows how to conjure eerie apparitions or simply pulverise bone, splintering the fragments of being with each cursed invocation of formidable malevolence. Like an endless abyss of coiling serpents, we unravel the hellish and the spiritually obscene and this is simply the first layer of infinite depravities to be witnessed…

Whether cleaving the flesh from the body or torturing the mind with tormenting visions, this record pulls you like a riptide into the heart of the beast and shows no mercy nor forgiveness to its victims. The glorious thing about this band, is they feel like the ancient masters of Black/Death Metal without sounding like them. Teitanblood, Blasphemy, Morbid Angel and many more have this unique spirit in their sound which is felt yet never sounded quite like anything else. The same can be said for Black Curse. Perhaps one of the highest honours in a homogenous genre full of imitators where uniquely devious spirits seldom lie. “Trodden Flesh”, the lead single of the record, has already caused such a stir in the underground and for good reason. This stomping cavalcade of demonic entities purges the soul with pure, unfettered evil. Utilising the wildest and most unrestrained contortions of Death Metal’s most vengeful ghouls, the continual punishment emanating from this record never rests on its laurels and harnesses so many wonderfully wicked ideas. Each of these maelstroms of hostility is a spectacle, but when heard in the entire context of the album will have you holding your breath as the possession takes you.

Every nightmarish second spent within the endless corridors of this album feels like some demented fever dream. Drawing breath after breath of panicked sepulchral air into your lungs, poisoning the self with charnel decay, Black Curse will take you willing or not. Of course some people may feel more kinship to the safe and cosy plastic clogging up the underground, but adorers of abhorrent metallic furore will know this to be the genuine article. This record is frenzied, chaotic and yet has a sense of precision in delivering lacerations to the listener like an arcane spear of mean Death Metal tyranny. Forcing itself further into your conscious, burying misdeed after misdeed in the psyche, Black Curse leave no shred of sanity or wellness behind when they play their sadistic serenades for you. This album showcases the band continuing in their path to glory, riding on waves of inferior bands corpses without regard for trend. The real maniacs will make the divisions and the impure will be left burning in celestial poison.

A ceremonial exhibition of the finest Blackened Death Metal arts, flaying all opposition and disposing of meek imitators in a singular sweep of animosity. Black Curse remains one of the highest quality purveyors of this dark music we love and this record is another masterpiece worthy to follow in the footsteps of their monolithic debut. A unique new chapter that explores deeper abysses rather than treading water. Their former glories may be triumphant, but the present is just as worthy of celebration. Black Curse walk the ruinous paths, dare thee to embark with them?