This is the second album from Polish post-black metal band Cursebinder.
Psychohazard is the 53-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Drifting. Cursebinder’s return is a welcome one as they bring their vision of blackened extremity to life across eight engaging tracks.
Psychohazard is at its core a modern black metal album that’s underpinned by an array of other influences, bringing life to its cold blackened heart. In this way, Psychohazard is awash with emotive colour and depth, making for a multifaceted record of extreme metal. Elements of prog, blackgaze, hardcore, post-metal, doom, and jazz can all be felt in places, adding to Cursebinder’s rich palette of sound. Or, put another way, it’s progressive/post-black metal, played with finesse, and no small amount of power.
All of Psychohazard‘s moving parts flow seamlessly into each other, driving the music forward with elegant aggression. It’s a multihued journey, with Cursebinder acting as very capable guides. At any given time a range of components work together to produce extreme music of a rarefied sort. Cursebinder’s material is well-rendered into its final form, showcasing great quality assurance across the board. The band have a talent for expressive songwriting.
The various musical enrichments that Cursebinder infuse into their music give rise to songs that achieve their goals remarkably well. Across the record psychedelic, dissonant, atmospheric, and progressive touches are all used to create effective worldbuilding. The songs use space well, with progressive flourishes that breathe life into denser moments, balancing the whole. Creative ideas blossom into uncommon shapes, while nuanced textures abound, allowing the band to deliver songs that glitter with dark vivacious energies. Cursebinder’s deft use of darkly shining melody is entwined around everything they do, and the prog-tinged synths frequently add highlights that would be sorely missed were they absent.
So, a strong new record from Cursebinder then. Psychohazard builds and expands on their previous work, providing a broader listening experience. With great atmosphere, depth of expression, and channelled ferocity, Cursebinder’s newest outing improves on their last.
Very highly recommended.
