A man singing into a microphone while playing a guitar
A man playing a guitar next to another man playing a double bass
A man is playing a red gibson guitar
A man singing into a microphone while another man plays a guitar
A man wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket is singing into a microphone.
A group of people are standing on a stage playing instruments.
A shirtless man is playing drums in front of a sign that says el camilly
A group of people posing for a picture with one woman holding a red cup
A man in a black shirt is playing a double bass
A man is playing a guitar in a dark room

This Gift Is A Curse Heir CD Review

February 23, 2025
The cover of a game called the renfields

Season Of Mist have long been known for ushering in some of the heaviest music known to man. And the label shows no sign of slowing down. The label’s latest release is entitled “Heir” from the band Swedish Black/Sludge Metal band, This Gift is a Curse.
 
I’m into all kinds of music and I like it as gnarly as the next guy and sometimes even gnarlier. But after several listens to “Heir”, I can say without a doubt, I’ve met my threshold. While the album is packed with tons of musical talent, the recording/production doesn’t cater to it. Instead, the production comes off hot with no dynamic flair – everything blends and bleeds into each other. Imagine going to a live show where the sound engineer just turns everything up to ten and walks away. Maybe this was the band’s goal when entering the studio. I’m sure I stand alone in this thought process but Black Metal without dynamics just comes off like a hot mess of white noise, it doesn’t scratch the evil/horror itch that I crave with this kind of music. I need atmosphere, darkness, decay, despair, and the scenic colors that this genre of music leans into. After all, it’s called Black Metal. There is an instrumental track that features all this, but it’s just an instrumental and then we’re back being pulverized. Lyrically, this album does tick all the right boxes, but I wouldn’t know this if the lyrics hadn’t been sent out with the album.
 
I can’t deny the talent of this band both musically and lyrically, but the recording is too raw and bleak for me to truly appreciate. If you’re looking to start a WAR, then this might be your next favorite album. As for me, I feel like I’ve gone to WAR, and all my extremities have been blown off reducing me to a broken stump that’ll be left to die alone and or be eaten when the great Zombie apocalypse happens.

share this

Share by: