EP REVIEW: The Deathbed Sessions – Cursed Earth

Australia and the down under has been a hotbed for talent since the turn of the milenia. If you need a fresh batch of varied talent to explore then you really can’t find a better country to start with, and the new CURSED EARTH EP is a pretty good example of just that. The new EP from the Perth hardcore group features five guest performances from some of Australia’s best talents. The Deathbed Sessions are a bounce back from a band who have since lost their frantic voice, but aren’t letting such a setback stop them.

Matt Honeycutt of KUBLAI KHAN fame is the first voice we hear on this EP, and Fear serves as a stark reminder for anyone who might’ve forgotten the intensity CURSED EARTH bring. Their power tool esque guitar tone fuses with the rock-firm rhythms to create an intimidating war march of an opening track. There is a primal power that comes with Matt’s vocals and they elevate this track no end.

The vocal performances are easily the main draw to The Deathbed Sessions, which is what makes it a nigh on genius returning move for CURSED EARTH to pull. With the added benefits of having the bloodstained bards of Larissa Stupar on full display, CURSED EARTH use seven tracks to firmly remind everyone why they dominated the limelight with their Cycles of Grief debut. The buzzsaw riffs come at the listener with violent intent, and when combined with the consistent pace and bountiful dynamics, it turns The Deathbed Sessions into more than just an EP, and into a smorgasbord of collective contemporary talent.

The biggest, looming issue that raises its head by the closing moments is what’s next for CURSED EARTH after this? With seven songs that jump from the utmost brutal in Torch to the nearly melodic in Deathbed, there is every proof that CURSED EARTH have the musical chops to dominate the ‘core scene, but with what vocalist at the helm. The big double edged sword with The Deathbed Sessions is how effortlessly every guest sounds with the group. With so much potential the question of who will have to take on the hardly enviable responsibility of delivering the same seething level of hatred found on every song on this EP.

CURSED EARTH established themselves as a threat on their last outing, and even without the recognisable howls of previous vocalist Jazmine Luders, the band are as vital as ever. A nameless group of incredibly talented and angry Australians; that is quite literally all that’s ever been needed in order to make good music, apparently.

Rating: 8/10

The Deathbed Sessions is set for release on May 31st via UNFD.

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