Cursed Altar/Void, Eternal/2013 EP Review

  Cursed  Altar  are  a  band  from  North  Carolina  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  I  would  describe  as  being  black  metal  with  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  and  this  is  a  review  of  their self  released  2013  ep  "Void,  Eternal".

  "Void"  which  is  also  the  first  song  on  the  ep  opens  ups  with  acoustic  guitars  and  a  few  seconds  alter  drums,  black  metal  guitar  and  bass  riffs  along  with  grim  screams  make  their  way  into  the  song  and  then  the  music  slows  down  adds  in  synths  and  goes  for  a  more  doom  metal  influenced  song  as  well  as adding  in  a  small  amount  of  guitar  leads  which  also  leads  up  to  guitar  effect  sounds  as  well  as  experimental  and  avant  garde  elements  and  the  song  closes  with  spoken  word  samples.

  "Howl"  begins  with  clean  guitar  playing  along  with  sound  effects  in t he  background  which  also  lead  up  to  some  drum  beats  and  the  song  is  more  of  an  experimental  instrumental  with  no  heavy  parts  or  vocals  being  utilized.

  "Eternal"  which  is  also  the  last  song  on  the  ep  begins  with  spoken  word  samples  before  adding  in  fast  raw  and  primitive  sounding  black  metal  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  blast  beats  from  the  drums  and  then  the  music  slows  down  to  a  more  mid  paced  direction  which  also  leads  to  the  song  adding  in  drone  elements  that  take  over  for  awhile

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Altar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal,  experimental  and  sludge,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Void".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Cursed Altar Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on since the split up?

Well, it hasn't been too long since the 'death' of Cursed Altar... two or three weeks maybe. Honestly, I have been taking some time off from recording music to gather my thoughts and ideas for the next project I'll be bringing into the world. I've also been trying to get some sort of powerviolence or sludge band started to play live. 

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the music that Cursed put out?

The sound that everyone likes/wants/and remembers is the Black Metal sound. 

If I had to describe the musical sound of Cursed Altar in it's truest form... I would just say that it is the darkest thoughts and ideas of my mind put into music: hate, sadness, fear, guilt, depression, anger, sorrow, etc. 

3. I know that the music started out as being atmospheric black metal, but the later releases had more sludge and punk elements, what was the cause of change in musical direction?

Well, to be honest, I hate not being able to branch out, musically speaking. I've always been a fan of Sludge and Doom Metal... I also love Punk music. I was hearing a lot of really interesting sludge music coming out in the past few months that had really inspired me and I wanted to take a break from Black Metal (for me, it is very difficult to come up with new ideas in that genre). 

4.What where some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Suicide, hatred for the human race, self hatred, depression, anger, death, etc. 

5.What was the meaning and inspiration behind the projects name?

It was a while ago, but it has to do with the Earth being some sort of 'altar' and the human race being a 'curse' to the Earth. 

Like I said, I forgot the in depth meaning of the name. 

6. Recently the band split up. can you tell us more about the break up?

Honestly, it was just the fact that I was trying to push it to become something that it was clearly not. I wasn't satisfied with the way the new EP sounded. It sounded like a compilation of all these other bands. I respect and enjoy the talent that my guest musicians put into it, but I was going for a certain sound and I didn't get what I wanted. I could see that everyone else and myself were just not interested in direction Cursed Altar was taking. 

7. Recently you have started a new musical project, can you tell us a little bit about it and what direction it will be in?

I recorded a song and put it up under the name of CAAL, but that was pretty much the 'final breath' of Cursed Altar, really. 

I will be working on a new solo project named 'CHURCHDUST'. It is going to be heavily influenced by bands like SUNN O))), Argentinum Astrum, Electric Wizard, Earth, etc. It's going to very dark and a mixture of Doom, Drone, Dark Ambient, Sludge, and a pinch of Black Metal. 

8. On a worldwide level how was the feedback to the music of Cursed Altar by fans of black metal and other forms of underground music?

From what I could tell, people seemed to enjoy the music. Weather it was a die hard black metal fan, or just someone who enjoyed music in general, a lot of people liked it. 

9. What direction do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

Having as much to do with music as humanly possible. I'm going to try and get a powerviolence band going that will play live and (hopefully) put out records. My goal is to play music until I die. If I can be playing music when I die, even better. 

10. What where some of the bands and musical styles that influenced the music of Cursed Altar and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The four main bands that were the driving influence behind Cursed Altar were Deafheaven, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mayhem, and ISIS. 

I've been listening to a lot of Discharge lately... Uh... SUNN O))), Deafheaven, Black Sabbath, Leviathan, Slayer, Swamp Thing, Sepultura, Beastie Boys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Stevie Wonder, Amebix, etc, etc... The list can go on for days. 

11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

This is a hard question... If I'm not making music, I'm reading, trying to make some kind of art, or watching Netflix 24/7 (I have a problem. HA!)

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thanks to everyone who supported Cursed Altar in it's short lifetime. I hope you guys will love CHURCHDUST just as much!

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Cursed Altar/The Lowest Of All Places/2013 EP Review

  This  is  the  final  review  of  a  recording  from  Cursed  Altar  with  the  musical  style  being  a  mixture  of  black,  drone,  doom   metal  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2013  ep  "The  Lowest  Of  All  Places".

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on t his  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of t he  guitars.


   Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  dark  and  heavy  riffs  that  combine  black  metal,  drone,  sludge,  doom  and  noise  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  a  brief  use  of  punk  elements  being  thrown  into  one  song and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  range  from  high  pitched  black  metal  screams,  sludge  style  yelling  and  some  spoken  word  samples,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Altar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  doom/sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Lowest  Of  All  Places".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Cursed Altar//Movements Of The Frozen Earth/2012 Compilation Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Cursed  Altar  with  the  music  being  atmospheric,  post  black  metal  with  elements  of  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2012  compilation  album  "Movements  Of  The  Frozen  Earth".

  Drum  programming  ranges  from  slow  to  mid  paced  beats,  while  the  sound  effects  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  drone  sound  to t he  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

 Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  atmospheric  black  metal  riffs  that  use  some  raw  and  primitive  sounding  elements,  melody  and  post  rock  influences  in  the  riffing  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  a  brief  use  of  soft  and  clean  paying,  while  the  lead  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  are  very  melodic  sounding  post  black  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  when  they  are  utilized  are  mostly  grim  sounding  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  being  used  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  nature  and  suicidal  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Altar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of atmospheric,  post  black  metal  mixed  with  drone,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Darkest  Place  On  Earth"  "Prisons  Of  The  Mind"  and  "Twilight  In  The  Forest  Of  Suicide".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Cursed Altar/As The World Survives We Will Die Off As A Moment Of Time/2012 EP Review

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Cursed Altar  with t he  musical  style  this  time  around  being  atmospheric,  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2012  ep  "As  The  World  Survives  We  Will  Die  Off  As  A  Moment  Of  Time".

  Drums  programming  ranges  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  beats  that  sound  as  brutal  as  a  real  drum  kit,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing t hat  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars,  as  for  the  sound  effects  they  bring  elements  of  drone  to  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  atmospheric,  post  black  metal  riffs  that  use  some  raw  and  primitive  sounding  elements  as  well  as  some  melody  and  clean  playing  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  as  well as   some  heavy  distorted  parts  which  bring  in  drone  and  noise  elements,  while  the  lead  guitars  combine  post  black  metal  with  drone  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  with  some  deep  growls,  and  clean  singing  being  used  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  about  the  human  race  dying  off  and  nature  rising  up  to  take  back  it's  home,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it.

  in  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from Cursed  Altar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Progression(Pt. 1)"  and  "Kingdom".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Cursed Altar/Footsteps Of Past Journeys/2012 Compilation Album Review

  Cursed  Altar  where  a  band  from  North  Carolina  that  played  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  instrumental  black  metal  and  this  recording  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2012  compilation  album  "Footsteps  Of  Past  Journeys".

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars,  as  for  the  sound  effects w hen  they  are  utilized  bring  elements  of  drone  to  the  compilation.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  atmospheric  black  metal  riffs  that  utilize  some  raw  and  primitive  sounding  elements  as  well  as  melody  and  clean  playing  in  the  riffing  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  sounding  black  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  use  full  chords  to  add  some  progressive  elements  to  the  recording.

  Vocals  and  songwriting  are  all  absent  from  this  recording  with  the  music  being  all  instrumental,  while  the  song  themes  cover  darkness  and  nature  with  the  last  4  songs  having  a  concept  to them,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.  

  In  my  opinion  Cursed  Altar  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  atmospheric  black  metal  band  with  elements  of  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ascending  The  Mountains  Of  Velothi"  "Morke"  and  "Horrid  Species".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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