(written by Islander)
Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Let’s immediately address what you’re about to hear and then come back and fill in some details about who’s doing it.
Figuratively speaking at least, it might be smart for you to strap on body armor and a tough helmet before you press play on “Umbrage Earned,” the Plague Curse song we’re now premiering, because it’s a roaring blast front of weaponized sound.
With only a super-quick drum frenzy as warning, the song explodes in an assault of dense, churning, abrasive riffage backed by high-speed percussive cannonades and gut-loosening bass undulations, and fronted by gargantuan growls that roar their malice at high speed as well.
Within the fretwork’s dizzying churn the fleet-fingered tremolo’d riffing creates insidious writhing sensations that are both dismal and (when they rise) poisonous. As the drums shift into a more measured beat the music also seems to expand and to flow, still dangerously engulfing but also distressing and distraught.
The song’s violent explosiveness is never far away even as the riffing morphs and the moods change. The drumming rarely relents from inflicting brutal beatings at varying speeds; the riffing and the lead-guitar roil and sear, whine and whirl; the bass guts and thunders; and berserk screams trade off with those monstrous gutturals.
But it bears repeating that as tremendously assaulting and electrifying as the music is, it’s also technically impressive, and the band still manage to channel melodic currents that manifest not only unhinged fury but also sorrow and despair. As much as anything else, that makes the song stand out and become memorable.
And now let’s get to more details about who’s doing this.
Plague Curse are an international blackened death metal collaboration featuring members of Drowstorm, Vahrzaw, Vintertodt, Burden of Ymir, Calling of Phasmic Presence, and more:
PLAGUE CURSE is:
Nick Rossi – vocals
Joe Caswell – guitar
George Van Doorn – bass
Neil Schneider – drums
The song is from this band’s debut album, aptly named Verminous Contempt. It will be released internationally on October 10th by Adirondack Black Mass on CD. Find pre-orders and more info via the links below. Also below, we’ve included a stream of the album’s first single “Most Vile“.
CREDITS: Verminous Contempt was recorded by Joe Caswell at Witches’ Coven Studio in Canada, Neil Schneider at Spongecore Studio in the U.S., and Scott Williams at Phlegming Studio in Australia. The mixing was handled by Neil Schneider and Joe Caswell, and Schneider also mastered the record.
The logo and the viciously verminous cover art are the work of Christopher Albert Castillo Diaz.
PRE-ORDER:
https://adirondackblackmass.bandcamp.com/album/verminous-contempt
PLAGUE CURSE:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553206582729