When we talk about the South American Extreme Metal underground, past or present, the countries most often mentioned are Brazil, Chile, and Peru. That is not to say there isn’t plenty to discover in the other countries, Paraguay being one of them. Old Curse is certainly a name to remember if bands like Morbid Angel, Sarcófago, early Sepultura, Sadistic Intent, Infernäl Mäjesty, and Peru’s Mortem are up your alley. In the recent past, a new EP called ‘Decayed Doctrine’ was released, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up with Belem from Old Curse.
Hello Belem, please introduce Old Curse to our readers. What was Old Curse’s travelled road towards 2026 and the ‘Decayed Doctrine’ demo?
An unholy greeting to the entire horde summoned by VM-Underground Fanzine, and thanks to Félix from WolfKult Religion for forging this channel with you all. The story of Old Curse began to be written out of absolute loyalty to the old South American sound, unleashing our initial strike in November 2019 with the ‘Solve et Coagula’ demo, recorded back then with María José Valenzuela on guitar and Esnaider on vocals, with Carrion joining on bass immediately after to seal that early incarnation. However, while we were already in the process of a full-length album, the fracture occurred along with the departure of both members; faced with this scenario, the project’s foundations remained firm from behind the drums until rebuilding the band from its ashes. This restructuring took its definitive shape and injected renewed violence with the arrival of Genesis from Argentina on guitars and vocals, while Carrion shifted to six strings as well, achieving a union and collision of dark influences that led us directly to materialize the sound of death that you can now witness on ‘Decayed Doctrine’.
On your demo ‘Decayed Doctrine’, which WolfKult Religion has released on cassette in Q3 of 2026, you’re displaying a fine blend of Black and Death Metal, the first wave South American way, with fitting vocals. What does that typical darkness, approach and sound mean to you and which historical albums are essential?
For us, ‘Decayed Doctrine’ is the pure manifestation of our message. The idea is that, right from the first riffs, the listener immediately understands what we are projecting and feels that impact with every hit.
Regarding the essence and essential influences, our approach feeds on the darkness and rawness of the traditional South American scene, as well as the atmosphere and mysticism of the Greek sound, alongside other strands of extreme metal worldwide. Beyond specific references, what matters most to us is that we are devoted followers of the underground cult and, above all, passionate about Heavy Metal.
And what can you tell us about the demo ‘Decayed Doctrine’ itself? How did you approach the recording and mixing process of ‘Decayed Doctrine’ to capture that specific authentic first wave South American grit?
The devotion and method of the underground cult inspires and fuels us. For ‘Decayed Doctrine’, we approached the recording using the exact same techniques as our influences: direct and visceral tracking, filthy guitar attack, and raw, suffocating vocals without makeup. We sought that rustic, analogue essence to achieve an irreplaceable, ritualistic aura. Having the demo take physical shape on cassette through WolfKult Religion reinforces this vision, as the tape perfectly captures the raw frequencies we want to transmit to you all.
As said, the cassette version is handled by WolfKult Religion. How did this collaboration come to be, and how important is the cassette format for a band like Old Curse?
The alliance with WolfKult Religion was something we were not actively searching for or expecting at that moment. ‘Decayed Doctrine’ was fresh out, and no one had shown interest in issuing it yet; we were just returning from playing in Rosario, Argentina, summoned by the Negro Metal label. We dropped the tracks right before traveling, and upon returning, Félix contacted us to propose this limited cassette release.
For Old Curse, the physical format is fundamental. We hold a deep respect for the tangible and analogue, be it tape, vinyl, or any other physical edition, because for us it is vital to keep embodying and materializing what we create into something you can physically hold in your hands. Bringing ‘Decayed Doctrine’ to life on cassette alongside WolfKult Religion is the natural step to give real shape to this work.
Already plans for the (near) future, working on new material and such?
We are currently in the midst of recording and mastering our first full-length album. The deal for this release is already signed for August with a Mexican label, whose name we are keeping under wraps for now until the official reveal.
On the other hand, ‘Decayed Doctrine’ has crossed borders with releases issued through Fatalism Musickness in Indonesia and Deathly Fighter Records in Mexico. Furthermore, by October, the Argentine label Negro Metal will be launching a new edition of this work. Our plans are focused on continuing to spread the plague to other territories; we already have confirmed plans to bring our attack to Mexico and very likely to Brazil. Stay tuned to the upcoming announcements and movements.
Are there any bands or albums of your recent playlist you would like to mention? A rediscovery, an overlooked gem or an unsigned demo band that deserves attention?
Some hidden gems, at least for me, that absolutely deserve recognition are Insidious Impaler from my own country. They play an outstanding Black/Death Metal and released a killer demo titled Death Cult Path back in 2017. Another hidden gem is Nocturnal Desecration, a Black/Death Metal band from Misiones, Argentina, our brothers across the border. Their style delivers that massive vibe of bands like Convulsed, Dead Congregation, and Grave Miasma. I highly recommend checking out their demo ‘Liberation Through Death’ as well as their split release. Lastly, Hostil from Peru. They are a devastating Thrash/Death Metal band that put out a great album titled ‘Infernal Rites’ in 2018.
Paraguay isn’t quite known in the rest of world concerning Extreme Metal, could be that Eruptive and Verthebral ring a bell, so could you please mention any bands of Paraguay that are worth mentioning and to check out for our readers?
Hell yeah, Eruptive and Verthebral are massive bands that have emerged from here—pure, recommended brutality straight to the jugular! There are plenty of bands active today in Paraguay that deliver intense brutality and are definitely worth a listen. You have Glorification, Nidaros Desecration, and Master of Cruelty, who are already paving their way into the international scene. I also have to mention Khyron; they play Heavy Metal and are absolute pillars for me, essential to my own personal journey into metal. I could go on forever because there is so much to listen to in Paraguay. Our scene is full of hidden gems waiting to be unearthed, and there is a lot to dig into, not just within the extreme subgenres.
Any favourite record labels whose new releases you always watch out for, or perhaps a particular illustrator or cover artist you admire? You might also have a go-to distro you frequently order from.
When it comes to record labels, the ones whose releases I always follow closely are definitely Alkohilik Holocaust, Blood Harvest, Destruktion Records, Dark Recollection, and Peaceville. As for distros, since I currently buy my stuff locally, I always order from a great store here in my country called Babylon Store. Regarding my favorite illustrators, from the current scene I really dig Khali Temple Project (by Katiuzka Guerrero) and Stefano Bubonic Artworks. However, looking back at the early, classic days of metal, I’ve always loved the iconic artistic style of Philip Lawvere.
Thanks for the interview, Belem!
We appreciate the space and the support for this manifestation. Greetings to the hordes that keep the flame burning.
