Cursed

Since Pestilential Shadows have a new record out, I have decided to revisit their material, re-write my reviews and recalculate my equations that led me to my conclusions last time. Its been a while since I wrote the review for ‘Cursed’, the sophomore effort from the Australian band and since then, I have had time to calm my nerves and take some metaphorical diazepam in an attempt to readjust my thoughts and feelings prior to revisiting this crucial aspect of the bands career. Initially, I was disappointed with ‘Cursed’. Most of the elements seemed to lack to the bite that was constructed on the debut, particularly in regards to the vocals. I remembering receiving a message shortly after submitting my review for this sophomore effort and being asked if I was perhaps being too hasty. I think the answer is a definite yes, I was. Although the dust has settled, and I have calmed down after my assault on ‘Cursed’, which seemed like an apt title at the time, I do still feel that the bite has been partially lost in between this record and the previous one, which was actually recorded a number of years prior to its physical release in 2005.

However, though I still do feel that the vocals require some attention as they don’t possess my body like they once did in their demonised form, the sound, as a whole, isn’t as neglecting of my essential black metal tastes as I once would have concluded. I feel I should have taken into consideration the fact that the band had a period of three years in which to alter into this state because, as stated, there was a sustained gap between ‘Embrace After Death’ and ‘Cursed’. This is plenty of time for a band to oversee a complete transformation in sound and though the band have altered in several different ways, the sound, when it has time to settle in the pits of my stomach, is digested easily enough - certainly more easily than the lo-fi introduction that ‘Embrace After Death’ was. Initially, I thought that there was only a one year break between the first and second efforts, so my confusion was seemingly well founded when I heard this drastically different sound. The alterations seemed unexpected and mostly uninvited. Since I had only just discovered the band prior to the release of ‘Cursed’, it was a shock to the system when I had heard the transformation in full from the lo-fi haze of the winter bliss that was ‘Embraced After Death’, to this clean rendition of desolate black metal ‘Cursed’.

As I said in my re-review for ‘Embrace After Death’, which is still a classic to this day, I used to love piss-poor production values. The more lo-fi, the better. Ever since I was entranced and intrigued by the glorious lo-fi status of ‘Transilvanian Hunger’ by Darkthrone, I was seeking out distorted geniuses like the Norwegian act in various other places, in varying styles. When I came across Pestilential Shadows’ debut, I was in love with the anger of the lo-fi nature. It sounded like the devil was spitting the lyrics of the Satanic bible at me with a venom that was contracting, so much so, I was a believer. Now, in today’s era, I have altered my tastes by way on experimenting and evolving with the genre. I no longer need distortion to survive, or at least not lo-fi style. ‘Cursed’ itself has a lot of distortion despite the cleaner production, which gives an occult vibe to the different vocals on this occasion. The vocals are, essentially, still rasps, but they’re a lot less convincing than the previous portrayal. I do like the vocals, they merge well with the instrumental sections, particularly the distorted guitars and low ebbing bass, but I have a soft spot for the first record and the vocals on that particular effort will never be dislodged from top spot.

Another problem would be song lengths. Since the band have decreased the lengths of the songs, there is no “epic” vibe to any of the songs because they’re not long enough to warrant that feel. I often associate epic qualities with length and majesty, but the songs here display neither of those aspects. The production didn’t detract from the instrumental sections on the previous record. The bass was even audible throughout! The change is obviously down to maturity and know-how. The band have evolved and as I preach, if I fail to move with the change, I will be left behind. Thankfully, the third record has proved a hit with not only myself, but the general public too. ‘Embrace After Death’ had that punchy raw quality to the production and with it, came a sense of intense involvement from the listener as we were taken on an explicit journey through our minds as we envisioned all of the desolate landscapes that Pestilential Shadows were musically describing to us. Songs like ‘My Scorn’ still do contain that “evil” feeling, the demonised vibe now comes entirely from the instrumentation, as opposed to the vocals which it used to work almost entirely with.

The lo-fi sound, although hazy and with its fuzzy sound, was perfectly fitting to the type of music the band was creating. I suppose, to a lesser degree, the same can be said about ‘Cursed’, but the punch has been drained on its intensity. It doesn't have that edge that ‘Embrace After Death’ had, but its suitable enough for the methods the band are inflicting upon us. Previously, I had preferred the more traditional lo-fi sound, but I’m warming to this style, particularly as the new record takes up a similar outlook and it is brilliant. I am now under the impression, with improved headphones, that there is a lot more variation to be had here. The bass, especially, deviates an awful lot and is rather infectious. The drums are perfect. Clear, snappy and suspenseful. Although I do prefer ‘Embrace After Death’ for its nostalgic glow, I have warmed to this record. Certainly not one of the worst black metal efforts. I can sit back and relax as I know, as a matter of fact, that Pestilential Shadows have altered again on the third opus and with it, has come a re-emergence of some of their best material with the new and exciting fragrance they’re displaying for us.