Album Details

• Artist: Cursed
• Album: Three - Architects Of Troubled Sleep
• Label: Goodfellow
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-07-17

Back from the northern Canadian reaches is hardcore savior outfit Cursed, who's previous two albums One and Two have gone to great lengths to establish the band as both a force to be reckoned with, and a force of change within their own genre, inspiring some great music from bands in their sphere. It's always a challenge to duplicate such results, let alone improve upon them. It's tough to say exactly where Three lies, but it's easy to see Cursed have lost nothing of their adrenaline-pumping ferocity and skill for creating no-nonsense hardcore.

The album opens with a foreboding intro spliced with lines from films or television that I am unfamiliar with, but that sound familiar enough for the emotional state they impose. There's dread all over this album, it makes you feel uncomfortable for every moment of glory you revel in.  "Night Terrors" is the first real song and it's full speed ahead approach and on a dime shifts should leave your neck sore. "Antihero Resuscitator" is one of my favorite songs, in particular for the awesome Converge-esque intro and it's reoccuring riffage. Most reviews out there are touting "Friends in the Music Business" as a career highlight, and I couldn't agree more: it's spiteful lyrics, grind-core tendencies and thick riffs do not let up until the point is made. Also noteworthy: "Into The Hive", "Hegel's Bastards" and "Dead Air at the Pulpit". Closer "Gutters" is basically 7 minutes of muddy distorted guitar melodies (or anti-melodies?) that tries to make sure what you've felt with Three isn't something that quickly fades after it's over.

A more superbly crafted and enjoyable hardcore release may be impossible to find this year. Cursed contunie to prove themselves to themselves and in the process to any fan of hardcore who can appreciate what the genre is really all about without being addicted to breakdowns and simplistic songwriting. Their creativity is only matched by their violence, and both collide to create a rather special collection of songs on Architects of Troubled Sleep. 

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