It would appear that the Scandinavians are the true bearers of the Blackened Thrash genre and Curse are another of the malicious and vile Black Thrash Vikings. “The Awakening.. and the Old” is a 6 track EP that is 20 odd minutes of unrelenting, pure and maniacal storming aggression.
Each track provided by these blackened metal masters is chock full of killer riffage and hooks, full frontal onslaught drumming and lyrically magnificent black vocalisation. Combine all that with not so subtle underlying melodies with savage and intensely hectic instrumentation and you have an album that is just crying out to played at full volume.
“The Curse” begins our malevolent journey into darkness and mayhem with “The Knife” following on with vocals that will literally beat the shit out of you with lyrics screaming of evil and death. Although not played at the same fast tempo as the rest of the tracks, this song is just fucking menacing and ominous.
“I am Death” and the title track “The Awakening.. and the Old” are the epitome of blackened Thrash. Raw, brutal and chaotic, they are a blitzkrieg on the senses with the aforementioned killer riffage and hooks combined with a fast tempo and lyrical blasphemy.
This is a killer album and I must have listened to it on multiple occasions since I got a copy. Matter of fact, I am still listening to it as I write to you all now. Listening to “The Awakening.. and the Old” is neigh on primal and I suggest you go get yourselves a copy post haste. (Longstretch)
