Curse of the North – Curse of the North: I

Sticking to tradition is a quality that is highly revered in heavy metal, as it keeps the music from being sectioned off into one of many subgenres. Curse of The North believe in following tradition while putting a modern twist in their music, but the twist goes a bit further and tighter than they may have expected, making for a performance that is a bit more warped than they had anticipated.

The most immediate and striking comparisons in sound are to the likes of Danzig and Red Fang, with percussion that is bold and forward coupled with intentionally lower production values to produce a groovy fuzz. In the speed and tempo there are traces of doom as things move along at a lumbering pace, methodically building up walls of sound that are then toppled over by blistering guitar riffs and rolling, crashing drums. One of the key elements in the construction of the sonic monoliths are the vocals which come out as a long, drawn out, and melodic drone that emphasize the gravity of the sound.

Curse of The North isn’t all about crushing weight though, as they do pick up a faster, anxiety-inducing pace. At times it feels much like Opeth’s My Arms Your Hearse with its sinister atmosphere, but then cuts in a with a more upbeat 70’s feel. In theory, this could lead to a very confusing performance, but they pull it together with excellent playing and a clear level of thought towards the development and construction of their sound, all of which makes for a very cohesive album.

Curse of The North might attempt to stay true to the classics, but their own unique style is prevalent; this is a good thing, since the band has enough talent and guts to stand on their own two feet. I look forward to seeing what they come up with in the future and, in the meantime, Curse of The North will be making its way into my rotation.