BURN THEM NOW AND RAISE SALEM'S GHOST FROM HER GRAVE

CURSEBREAKER - "THE BLACK BANNERS"
("D.I.Y."; MP3 Download):

For guys like me that grew up used to get 'their music' on some 'real physical' kind of release(s) it's really something like a 'new' (and maybe really damn not better) world with (especially D.I.Y.) bands putting out there music more and more solely on the digital way of MP3 and downloading, maybe sometimes only all backed up by some strictly limited only very, very few numbers of physical copies of the release (if anyhow). Even it's more than 'understandable' that (especially D.I.Y. working) bands choose to walk on this 'new' way of releasing their music (all becomes more and more expensive, and also this is maybe nothing but the outcme of the uncountable actions of uncountable jackasses that only download/'steal' their music from the web since years instead of going out and buy the records of the bands they want to have and give so the bands maybe only a little support and sign of respect for their work, and esecially when it comes to subcultural underground bands, and even more when it coms to D.I.Y. bands, I really can't understand how the fuck someone can only download it and then also be thinking it would have been a great move by him anyhow) it's making it all not that much 'better' after all, if you ask me and if ya know what I want to say with these words. Okay, but that's something like a topic of its own, so now to this record review here. CURSEBREAKER are a pretty new band (at least to me) out of Portland, Oregon (I hope that's right) and (for what I know) "THE BLACK BANNERS" is their first output, and to judge by the bandname, the release title, the names of the songs and the frontcoverartwork (more of an artwork you don't get here anyhow with this download, and so, for example, also no lyrics or photos or linernotes) the band to have a pretty interesting and sinister and intense character. Okay, anyhow, musically we get some pretty modern and full of energy onward driving/driven nervous-shaking Hardcore, very sinister and dark and with some very few desperate Crustcore and also some but only really very, very, very few raging Grindcore influences as well as some few chugging Punk impressions in it. Also some pretty catchy and nearly something like melodical parts we do get, even beside this you have to work yourself first and foremost through some pretty dissonant material and also get used to the very hectic-nervous and packed full with breaks and changes in structure and pace and also some-how style songwriting that's making this here to everything but an anyhow 'easy-listening' stuff. It's all pretty complex and I would also easily and without a second thought say somehow progressive and it's really demanding and in its strongest moments mercyless grapping, also all with a little (sometimes maybe also bigger) 'jazzy' feeling to it. The songwriting will make your head turn around uncountable times, a damn huge amount of suprises and exciting changes in it, the guitar work is incredible varying and I really love the present and 'hell of a lot doing' bass, and the blistering drumming is also just great. The vocals are pretty much delivered in the way of huskily and jejune and throaty screams, and are really  making the picture of CURSEBREAKER round and complete, and, once again, there's somehow always a very dark atmosphere and some sick and psychotic 'jazzy' feeling to it. It's a pretty modern sound and stle of Hardcore, and you really should have a faible for the sinister and dark and also aggressive as well as self-aggressive side of things. To be honest I have to admit that I'm not so familiar with this pecific style and sound of Hardcore, but I would say that bands like CURSEBREAKER are really cultivating what bands like SNAPCASE and REFUSED once had done and started and that they (which means bands like CURSEBREAKER) are really giving this style of Hardcore now-a-days (nearly) its crown, hm, and maybe I would also say that if ya like a band like TORCHBEARER you should maybe also risk an ear on this one here. Guys that are more familiar with this specific way of playing Hardcore do compare them to and with (to me also totally unknown) bands like LEWD ACTS, ALL TEETH and PRESSVRE, hm, and maybe this names help (at least) you to draw an even more precise picture of CURSEBREAKER and of what they are doing here. Anyhow, the production sound is pretty much stripped down to the core  isreally damn good stuff, and the artwork (like above mentioned) is really 'cool' (or better truly dark) stuff, hm, and for what I got of the lyrics also on this front CURSEBREAKER are doing a pretty good job. The only thing that's really distorting an even better outcome here is the fact that CURSEBREAKER really need to make their songwriting more tight and more flowing or floating, so that it all would come more and 'better' together, but that's all (even it's not less), and if ya can imagine some good stuff as the outcome of the above described music and/or if the named bands do say you something and I mean 'something' that you like, yehp, then you really should check them out. CURSEBREAKER did have released this one (for what I know) solely as an official download via their BandCamp site, hm, so maybe you check them and/or get this one here anyhow. I would be pretty interested in getting more from them to listen to, and this better sooner than later. My favorite track on this one here is definitely "LIARS, CHEATS & OTHER PROUD AMERICANS", awesome stuff!!! (8 of 10 points)

(Contact & Download: http://cursebreaker.bandcamp.com/)