Cursed EarthCycles of Grief, Vol 1: Growth - EP

The press material for Cursed Earth’s newest EP, Cycles of Grief – Volume 1: Growth, includes the following narrative primer: “From violence comes more violence, from tragedy comes rage. Then, inevitably, the cycle continues.” And while the volume tag implies that this five track EP is merely the first entry of an ostensibly violent series to come, Cursed Earth aren’t strangers to bleak narratives of pain, anguish and aggression.

Cycles of Grief picks up right where the band’s prior release, 2016’s Enslaved By The Insignificant (which functioned as a compilation of their previously released Vae Mortis EP and spilt with Sydney’s Burning Season) left off, and deals almost exclusively in the band’s now trademark assault of blistering metallic hardcore.

The EP’s highlight comes in the form of frontwoman Jazmine Luders’ incendiary vocal delivery, who spits bile and venom in equal measure with her commanding, caustic roar.

Securing a new home with label powerhouse UNFD has done little to dull the razor-sharp edge of the Perth quintet’s instrumentation, as evidenced by the bludgeoning intro of War March. Tracks like Broken and the pit-worthy Discarded find guitarists Kieran Molloy and Paul Cottrell wielding massive, buzz-saw riffs, while back-end ragers like Sanctioned Violence and closer Violated feature seismic drum shifts and thick, rhythmic grooves from drummer Sam Forward and bassist Robert Owens respectively. The EP’s highlight comes in the form of frontwoman Jazmine Luders’ incendiary vocal delivery, who spits bile and venom in equal measure with her commanding, caustic roar.

If there’s one grievance to be levelled at Cycles of Grief, it’s one of runtime. EP’s are supposed to be short, but with one intro track and four slices of new song material, Cycles of Grief burns itself out in under ten minutes, tapering off drastically just as Cursed Earth hit their stride. Time will tell if the group can stretch themselves to a long-form release, but for now, the cycle continues unabated.

STICK THIS NEXT TO: Nails, Justice For The Damned, Trap Them
STANDOUT TRACKS: War March, Broken, Sanctioned Violence

Cycles of Grief, Vol 1: Growth – EP will be available from August 4th via UNFD.

Cursed Earth are on the road now supporting Thy Art Is Murder alongside Alpha Wolf and Deadlights.

 THY ART IS MURDER – DEATH SENTENCE TOUR

 feat. Cursed Earth, Deadlights, & Alpha Wolf

Wednesday 2nd August – Canberra – The Basement
Thursday 3rd August – Wollongong – Uni Bar
Friday 4th August – Sydney – Oxford Arts Factory
Saturday 5th August – Newcastle – The Cambridge Hotel
Thursday 10th August – Brisbane – Crowbar
Friday 11th August – Noosa – Villa Noosa
Saturday 12th August – Gold Coast – Miami Tavern