Black Curse - 'Endless Wound' (2020)

[polymer]

Surprised there's been little chat about this lot and release so far.

Bound to appeal to many here - a contemporary death metal super group, of sorts, featuring members of Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice, Primitive Man.

Chaotic yet intricate, and densely atmospheric. Very impressive release.

[Eoin McLove]

I have to go back to it. I gave it a cursory listen a few weeks ago and my initial response was that it sounded really appealing in regards to the production style, but the music itself was ordinary. I may be suffering from noisy, cavernous DM fatigue, though. It sounded to me a bit like a condensed version of 'Lunarterial', whereas the sprawling nature of that album is a huge part of its charm. But yeah, it might be one I revisit and reassess when the time is right.

[open face surgery]

It's fantastic. I was unsure at first if it was just amazingly produced, which it is, but repeat listens broke it down and it's savage. Definitely lends heavily from Lunarterial and Katharsis - Fourth Reich but it works especially because not many do. Also, most US death metal around now is pedestrial rehashed pish so this is welcome.

[Pentagrimes]

It's fine,but  like a lot of this stuff I cant see myself reaching for this over something like the Crucifier demos or "Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L"-both of which it puts me in mind of. We'll see how it holds up in a year.  I really like the slower bits,that's where the "Lunarterial" comparison sticks out to me.

Sort of related as it's out of that same BI/SC circle, the Lykotonon demo is worth a listen. Bit different from most current dm,thank fuck.

[open face surgery]

Slower, groovier bits are the Katharsis bits so I suppose the fast bits are stock enough but the production carries them. Huge bass sound.

[Snare]

Saw 'em last year and great at the start, then it just got too repetitive with no personality and I got bored. Humming and hawing about the album, will give it another try though.