This is the fifth album from German solo black metal act Non Est Deus.
Brought to life by the artist behind Kanonenfieber and Leiþa, Blessings and Curses contains 41 minutes of melodic black metal. Across this record the listener is treated to a compelling, enjoyable visit to the Non Est Deus world.
Apart from the three intro/interlude tracks, Blessings and Curses is a record of fierce, song-based modern melodic black metal. Well-written and performed, the songs boast hooks, character, and presence.
Aggressive, but with melody, atmosphere, and an eye for pacing, Blessings and Curses is easy to enjoy. The melodies worm their way into your skull, the vocal patterns are engaging, and the hooks sharper than you might expect. The fast sections are nicely harsh, but it’s many of the mid-paced parts that surprise by being remarkably upbeat, in a blackened way. In other words, this is music designed for the live environment, to get people moving, dancing, headbanging, etc. It has been designed that way, in essence – Blessings and Curses is custom-made for big live shows. The artist behind Non Est Deus knows how to pen a good black metal tune.
For these reasons and more, Blessings and Curses is quite moreish when it wants to be. It’s engaging, enjoyable, and fun to listen to. What’s not to like?
A recommended listen.
Wonderbox Metal 