EP REVIEW: Violent Measures – Cold Curse

The paradoxical nature of the alternative scene is that frequently, many sounds and genres will seem like a good combination, but when put into practise can backfire gloriously. When done well, and thought through, the combination of sounds ranging from blistering grindcore, pummelling hardcore, and the riff lead assault of death metal, can be brought together in harmonious collection of musical meat cleavers. COLD CURSE work at a bit of a snail’s pace, having been a band since 2013 and still lacking a full length, but with their newest EP Violent Measure, the group offer another glimpse into their chaotic world. 

The immediate tirade of blast beats and shrill guitars in the opening seconds of Clandestine should be enough to shock anyone into focusing on the carnage at hand. COLD CURSE use the same pounding beats as bands like CANDY, creating a marching feel to the music as the riffs give the beat even more power. The song jumps from classic hardcore passages to more death metal friendly sounds with ease, and the devolving moments of By The Sword are even further proof of the groups expertise in the genres they combine. 

There is a sense of worship towards bands like OBITUARY, with pummelling riffs laid over the top of rolling double bass infusing Violent Measure with an unrivalled sense of power, and also alludes to what COLD CURSE could do when they finally get round to releasing a full length. Throughout the four tracks on the EP, there remains as much influence from groups like CONVERGE as there is PIG DESTROYER, and when you continue to add in the thick guitars and the intensity with which the group plays, you begin to understand how volatile these 10 minutes of music are. 

As much as you praise COLD CURSE, the looming fact that there is a very finite amount of their music around considering how long the band have existed does sour the hype somewhat. A full length of crossover chaos of this quality would be a welcomed further injection of vitality to a genre that all to often falls into the same tropes and recycles the same musical ideas. COLD CURSE sound right at home amongst the very best the hardcore and crossover scenes have to offer, we just need more of it. 

Rating: 8/10

Violent Measure is set for release July 12th via Creator-Destructor Records. 

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