CURVED BLADE — Be Like Death (review)

CURVED BLADE — Be Like Death album cover Demo · 2010 · Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Vehemency
Hospital Productions is known for its various noise and experimental records, so it is always nice to see the label release something as, well, normal, as the lo-fi black metal of Curved Blade. But most certainly, Be Like Death tape doesn’t disappoint at all, in fact, it is filled with great mysteriousness that I’ve always enjoyed, and it’s hard to come by such authentic sounding darkness that Be Like Death provides. Tape format is most fitting for the hissing, murky mid-tempo black metal wandering, somewhat reminiscent of the simplicity of Musta Kappeli and, especially in the incomprehensible vocal department, various Les Legions Noires acts.

Logically, the sound is very rehearsal quality but all the instruments - and that means guitar, bass, drums and synths (!) - are enough distinguishable, even if somewhat hidden in the aura of trance-inducing utter blackness. And not only the metal is very tastefully done, but both of the songs on the tape have short ambient sections utilizing acoustic guitar, synths and guitar feedback as far as my ears decipher. These fit just perfectly with the death-reeking cryptic black metal. One of my only complaints goes to the total playing time which barely clocks at ten minutes, making me eager to hear a lot more. Hopefully this wasn’t just a one-time experimentation and there is more to follow, because Be Like Death convinced me big time.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us