Carnation – Cursed Mortality
Carnation – Cursed Mortality
Season Of Mist
Release Date: 03/11/23
Running Time: 35:02
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
Seasons Of Mist are a powerhouse in the world of Metal record labels, with an enviable roster of bands and reputation for churning out quality album after quality album. That’s why I was so excited to get my hand’s on Carnation’s soon-to-be-released full length album “Cursed Mortality”. A new band to me, but I was going in with blind faith trusting that the label would back a quality release. Would my faith be rewarded? Whilst doing some research (quick Google) of the Belgian act prior to listening, they have described themselves as being “at the forefront of reviving old school death metal”. I’ve heard lines in a similar vein a few times, and this may be a cliché sadly. Maybe it was time to actually listen to the damn record instead of hypothesising what it could or couldn’t be.
I took a slightly different route in, and checked out their video for ‘Cycle Of Suffering’ first. Okay! These guys look the part, and most certainly sound the part. They really are not to play games either! I could certainly see that old school vibe in there, with the crushing guitar riffs, and Simon’s vocals sounding like George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fischer’s long-lost twin! I could sense a subtle melodic and contemporary edge to the production too, giving a slightly more atmospheric and refined quality, rather than just a straight up Brutal Death Metal sound. So far so very good indeed! Talk about a great first impression.
I decided to take another different route and check out one of their live performances. Specifically, their set at Grasspop this year. Well, that performance looked phenomenal! Genuinely. They sound just as sharp and polished live. I’d genuinely have a hard time telling the live and studio versions apart. Which is a testament to their musicianship. Crazy to think they’ve already been around for 10 years+ at this stage and I’m only just laying eyes on them, but it shows in that performance. Touring around the world and appearing on festivals such as 70,000 Tons Of Metal will have given them ample time to hone their stage craft.
This may a little out of place but I had to share this about the cover art! Especially given that it was created by the team surrounding the late great Polish surrealist artist, Mariusz Lewandowski. Which I found exciting! Now with that covert art nerdy outburst out the way, back to the album!
With hindsight, I was definitely too sceptical about Carnation being a cliché ‘Old School Death Metal with a modern twist’ style band. Because they have absolutely delivered on this record. The album is littered with that aforementioned Old School Death Metal vibe; blistering guitar and brutally heavy vocals played at excruciating fast pace! They’ll happily mix it up and within a heartbeat you’ll find your ears sense being pummelled by some devastating sludgy and bone crunching slower passages. Yet these transitions never feel rushed or out of place. Each track is paced beautifully, and ideas appear to develop organically, hinting at detailed compositional work.
Production wise, this feels like a much more refined and matured record, especially when compared to older records that perhaps felt a bit too raw and gritty. Still, that raw Death Metal brutality still shines through, again successfully combining what worked brilliantly in the past for other bands but modernising these classic elements. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, but if it can be refined then certainly do so!
They throw in a few curve balls along the way too. For instance, I was expecting the clean vocals from ‘Metropolis’, or ‘Cursed Morality’. However, much like Septic Flesh proved, clean vocals can most definitely work in Extreme Metal! In fact, I need to talk more about the album’s title track, ‘Cursed Morality’. This is the absolute crown jewel of what is an absolute juggernaut of an album. If I were chose only one song to sum up the band’s unique style, it would be this one! This incorporates all that is great about the band and their unique take on Extreme Metal.
Then after 35 minutes or so, it’s all over. What just happened? I’ve just had my sense pulverised in multiple ways by some glorious extreme metal. That was far too quick. I want more! Which says it all really.
In a genre full of posers and false promises, it’s difficult to trust who is legit. I’ll tell you now, Carnation are the real deal! Cursed Morality is a blistering effort, a much more mature and refined product, and just may well be the break-through album for the band. If they come anywhere near the North of England on tour, I’m buying a ticket!
TRACKLISTING:
01.Herald of Demise (04:03)
02.Maruta (04:07)
03.Metropolis (03:24)
04.Replicant (03:49)
05.Dutroux (03:38)
06.Submerged in Deafening Silence (04:26)
07.Cycle of Suffering (04:05)
08.Cursed Mortality (07:30)
LINE-UP:
Simon Duson- Vocals
Jonathan Verstrepen- Lead Guitar
Bert Vervoort- Rhythm Guitar
Yarne Heylen- Bass Guitar
Vincent Verstrepen- Drums
LINKS:
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