ALBUM REVIEW: Burning In Celestial Poison – Black Curse

There are many bands labelled with the term “extreme metal” but there are few that truly encapsulate extremity. The sound of BLACK CURSE doesn’t fit a genre mould other than “extreme”, melding raw elements from black, death, and doom metal. It’s no surprise that BLACK CURSE’s incoherent maelstrom is so effective given the band is comprised of members of PRIMITIVE MAN, KHEMMIS, SPECTRAL VOICE and SPIRIT POSSESSION. Yet, it’s not this foundation alone that makes their sound so captivating. It’s the passion and intent behind the music, to create something with heightened extremity and malevolence that makes it stand out amongst the current barrage of releases in the same vein. 

2020 debut record, Endless Wound, was a fine example of how to push the limits of chaos. A hidden gem within the extreme metal world, it separated those who enjoyed BLACK CURSE and those who did not know them. Burning in Celestial Poison doesn’t push their sound in a new direction (thankfully), continuing the venomous hatred that ensued during their earlier material. One thing that sets it apart from Endless Wound is the longer track length. Previous snappier cuts have been reshaped into 4 almost-equal pillars spanning 44 minutes. Disobeying the typical norms of structure, the increase in length allows for freedom and experimentation, giving each track a voice of its own. 

Burning in Celestial Poison wastes no time vomiting abyssal savagery. Opener, Spleen Girt With Serpent, is as grotesque musically as its title. A vile, anxiety-inducing wall of rage launches the record into full throttle, continuing for a solid three minutes until your ears are blessed with a slower, grittier section. The evil underpinnings and experimentation shine through during the midpoint of this track – desperate whispers and screams of souls trapped in the underworld by a barrage of gritty riffs and violent slams. Trodden Flesh is similarly evil in its delivery. Cymbal crashes and vocal booms that fire into your chest take centre stage before the eruption of a crushing, doom section that is disturbingly suffocating. Beneath the slow rhythm of the dirge, swirling chaos still unfolds in the background. 

While the longer cuts are a welcomed addition, it doesn’t matter how much time BLACK CURSE award each track. Regardless of length or structure, each slab is tightly packed with a wealth of elements yet, it never feels like they’re treading the same ground. Even when repeating a riff at different points in the song, the impact and feeling changes after journeying through visceral tempo shifts. Aside from how well delivered the music itself is, the exceptional production from Arthur Rizk elevates the record, tying it together in a bow dripping with disgust. Under all the chaos, you are somehow able to identify each individual instrument, adding a sense of clarity to the murkiness. 

Burning In Celestial Poison is a solid example of how to captivate a metalhead for 44 minutes. From the intensity, ferocious velocity and exceptional riff work its impression leaves you feeling like you’ve been stuffed into a cement mixer of noise – terrifying but insanely fun. But, what really sets this album apart is its uniqueness. BLACK CURSE are a law unto themselves, striding away from genre definitions and the influence of other artists into a category of their own. While other bands try and fail to truly push the limits of extremity, BLACK CURSE are one of few bands that manage to decimate the rulebooks of genre and create a genuine abomination, like Burning In Celestial Poison.

Rating: 8/10

Burning In Celestial Poison is out now via Sepulchral Voice Records.

Follow BLACK CURSE on Bandcamp.