This is the second album from US metal band Curses.
Curses offer quite a diverse/individual listen when compared to many bands who play in the modern metal arena.
Chapter II: Bloom is a contemporary metal album that takes elements of a range of complementary styles and forges then into an album that has a lot to offer over its 36 minutes. Technical and progressive metal is combined with metalcore to form the music’s base, which is then added to by touches of djent, electronically-enhanced ambience, and even some of the more atmospheric aspects of post-metal. The songs take all of these parts and package them up into tracks that have the right mix of depth and accessibility.
Emotive and catchy choruses are common, as are heavy guitars juxtaposed against fragile melodies and a technical backbone, (the drums and bass work particularly well together). Each track allows different facets of the band’s influences to come to the fore, and I like that Curses seem quite adept at avoiding the vast majority of the generic pitfalls inherent to modern metal bands. Passionate and satisfying, Chapter II: Bloom is an album I’ve taken to more than I usually do for the style.
Vocally the band have a diverse delivery, mainly consisting of three different styles, performed by two singers. One vocalist provides really deep roars, while the other gives us screams and clean singing.
Chapter II: Bloom is a strong album from a band that clearly want to make their mark on a scene that’s replete with similar-sounding bands. Curses achieve this, as although a lot of familiar elements can be heard across this album, they are presented in ways that are less-encountered. Chapter II: Bloom is a very enjoyable collection of tracks that anyone into contemporary metal should embrace heartily.
Wonderbox Metal 