You have to wonder just how much gas is left in the tank for this brand of revisionist old school death metal. Some absolute gems like ZOM and Bone Sickness have popped up over the last two or three years; the common themes being bands with an affinity for the sounds of death, black and thrash of yore, cassette tapes and a nasty production. With that said, like any movement or scene or what you want to call it, there have been a few duds in the mix too especially when it becomes a little more popular (as far as underground metal goes that is).
Now that we’re in the second half of 2013, what has this dark and decaying world have to offer us and keep us interested? The always reliable Iron Bonehead have stepped in again to hurl this new demo tape at us, Sulphur Blessing, a caustic offering from Sacrocurse.
Zolrak Montes is the chief mind behind Sacrocurse and his name may ring a bell, having played in veterans Morbosidad and Obeisance as well as a couple of other bands through the years. Channelling the influences of Nifelheim, Sarcofago and early Morbid Angel, Sacrocurse has moulded an impressive demo to draw our attention for things to come.
The four tracks are corrosive and unforgiving as opener ‘Sacrocurse Temple’ makes abundantly clear with a wailing guitar giving way to juddering riffs and scorching vocals from the pits of a hell. It’s a common theme amongst these four tracks, none of which pass the four and a half minute mark. They’re kept terse, succinct and to the point, not trying anything fancy, just throwing out ugly riffs, an idea thoroughly bookended by the steam train riffing of ‘C.O.N.V.U.L.S.E.’
Is Sulphur Blessing an essential slab of old school? In all honesty, it is not. It’s a straightforward demo that preaches to the loyal converted but It’s solid and at times pretty impressive, jamming a lot into its short running time.
