ALBUM REVIEW: Curse These Metal Hands – Pijn & Conjurer

It’s no secret that the albums released last year by CONJURER and PIJN were scintillating works that ranked highly in End of Year lists and received acclaim from all corners. So when the two bands were paired together at ArcTanGent Festival for a set entitled Curse These Metal Hands, the internet collectively lost its marbles as the prospect of such a meeting of the minds. Whether it was meant to initially be a one-off performance is anyone’s guess, but one year down the line and the Holy Roar Records duo have laid down their material in the studio for a record titled as their set was that day, out via their parent label at the end of next week.

Clocking in at a shade over half an hour and comprising just four songs, it’s very difficult to pin down exactly what format Curse These Metal Hands takes. Is it an EP? A full release? A so-called ‘mini-album’? Whatever it may be classed as, it’s wholly unsurprising that two of the most talented bands around have created a well-layered, thought-provoking record that pushes the boundaries of post-metal further than they ever have before.

Beginning with the previously released High Spirits, this nine-minute epic builds nicely from its serene, mellow opening into a cacophony of fuzzy, post-metal guitars and BARONESS-inspired vocal hooks. It gets heavier too with a riff chunky enough to rival Kit Kat and some gruffer vocals before returning to calmer waters. This back-and-forth is a trend across the record, but at no point does it feel jarring or misplaced, something that adds considerable strength to the overall feel. The song segues straight into The Pall, nearly as long and again swerving through moments of ambience and distortion. It feels darker in theme than its predecessor as well, with more savage vocals and a gorgeous, MASTODON-esque riff to fade out and complete the first half.

The second half opens with Endeavour, by far the shortest track at just under two and a half minutes. If the previous songs had showcased both bands’ styles in equal measure, this is where CONJURER have been at their most influential. Concise and compact yet remaining incredibly crushing, the sludgier elements present on the Rugby quartet’s phenomenal debut Mire are much more apparent. Closing things off is Sunday, a sprawling, tantalising movement that clocks in at over ten minutes in length and adds a healthy dose of PINK FLOYD just for good measure. It is paced well, with PIJN seemingly returning the favour from before on the serene middle section that is a masterclass in how to make ambience full and captivating. Quite appropriately, both bands are in complete sync as the track reaches its conclusion, a mixture of downtrodden riffs and soaring notes that rubber stamp exactly how good these two are, both individually and as a team.

The upshot of this all is that there will likely not be another album by the combined forced of PIJN and CONJURER, but if we’re lucky enough to get one then this is the blueprint for what would be a very exciting follow up. Brilliant in their own rights, they’ve blended the greatest sections of their sounds in a coherent and exquisite manner, meaning that not only do you hope there will be a follow up to Curse These Metal Hands, you almost wish there was more on the record to enjoy as well.

Rating: 8/10

Curse These Metal Hands is set for release August 16th via Holy Roar Records. 

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