Review Summary: Blackened death metal for the misinformed and desolate people hiding beyond society's walls.
Goatwhore are a blackened death metal band from the weather ravaged parts of New Orleans, Louisiana. Their newest release pulls many influences together and creates a pulverizing mix of extreme music tailor-made for aggressive people. "A Haunting Curse" blends traditional death metal with elements of black metal, and sludge into a melting pot of hard hitting music. Heavily drenched in southern influences and the full out emotions occurring from the aftermath of Katrina, one can hear the frustration and rage put into the music by this band. Speedy mid tempo riffing full of grooves hitting the right spot as the vocals tear away into undeniable catchiness, and pounding drumming cement the excellent song writing skills by the band.
Ben Falgoust - Vocals
Sammy Duet - Guitars and Vocals
Nathan Bergeron - Bass and Vocals
Zack Simmons - Drums
A Haunting Curse is a straightforward anger filled romp against all that is decent. Full of sinister lyrics, sharp sadistic vocals, pounding drums playing slow to fast patterns, and thick thudding grooves holding the rhythm and setting the tone of the album. This is not low production black metal, nor is it Christian rock, what Goatwhore play is extreme metal. Furious tempo changes, plenty of blast beat's and lightning quick double bass take place with Ben's revolting vocal style holding center stage. It is very clear what side the boys of Goatwhore stand for, as the rage ridden music becomes uglier and darker as time progresses. Many influences are shown on their third disk as elements of Crowbar, Celtic Frost, and the blacker moments of venom are merged with Goatwhore's signature style of blasphemous metal form to make music fit for Satan himself. Their last CD "Funeral Dirge For A Rotting Sun" has nothing on this album as "A Haunting Curse" is filled with more aggression and hatred then ever shown in the past albums.
All the tracks open up with unrelenting rage towards the listeners, as those who listen feel their pain and open their eyes to the world, only to find the world is becoming a horrible place. Sammy Duet the lone guitarist, holds the pace of the album, laying down Pantera inspired groove's as the verse's lead on to the choruses‘. The foundation of the music starts with the solid guitar work. Riffs hit hard and provide the power of the album with fast catchy riffs that retain the trademark Goatwhore sound. When the verse's lead into the choruses’ is when Goatwhore is at full strength. Sammy and Ben trade off, providing the harsh vocals throughout the disk. Sammy throws down really well, shining in the darker moments, adding a bleak atmosphere as Ben goes spews his vile lyrical content at the listener. Ben bellows angrily in a strong vocal performance with his menacing growls, spewing the darkness in his heart throughout the disk, expressing his hate against religion and other typical imagery in a menacing tone, savoring each moment as the hellish music pours forward. Now, Ben uses a more straightforward guttural approach, not the typical high pitch shrieks commonly used in black metal, but adding filth and vileness to his voice, adding a sinister edge to the music being played.
Drumming is very skilled as Zach Simmons is highly talented with his kit. Very often, he switches around slow to mid tempo work, showing off with rapid double bass patterns, numerous fills, and hard hitting blast beats. Pounding drum work give’s in to slower patterns as the riffs and screams give in to a excruciatingly blasphemous chorus that will have people tearing out their hair in a moment of insanity. " Forever Consumed Oblivion" is one of many standout tracks on this album. Opening with fast double bass, as Ben's vocals light up the air with his anger. Sammy's riffing heads on to the verse, providing a continuation of the hellish atmosphere being given off from the music. Production is handled well as Eric Rutan lives up to his name. However, the production is not clean and pristine as in such typical metal core bands, but instead gives off a raw and dirty feel.
Goatwhore add their own twist to the extreme metal genre that is slowly drying up due to a lack of originality and laziness. Goatwhore have added another solid metal album to there belt. Fans of death metal and straightforward black metal should eat this up and a limited number of flaws with the album as everything seems to blend perfectly well into the music. The evil is overflowing, so every sinner out there should find this to be the perfect disk to throw the horns up too.
Pros:
Down and dirty, heavy and blasphemous.
Instrumentation played well, especially a strong showing from the drummer.
Bens vocals are a strong performance throughout the disk.
Cons:
Lyrics are quite standard among the anti religious metal bands.
