Album Review: Sepulchral Curse - Crimson Moon Evocations
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Sepulchral Curse are a name amongst Finnish extreme metal who have been seriously growing lately. Formed in 2013 out of Varsinais-Suomi, Finland, the band play a form of blackened death metal that has garnered them a considerable following. Their earlier years were steadier, releasing a Demo in 2014 followed by their first EP, At The Onset Of Extinction, come 2016. Finally, by 2020, the band exploded out of the gate with their debut full length album, Only Ashes Remain, a huge release that year and one of my personal favourites. But the band wouldn’t rest on their laurels, for they released two EPS, in 2022 and 2023 respectively to which another Single was released that later year. Finally, the same year, Sepulchral Curze unveiled their second album, Abhorrent Dimensions, to much acclaim to which my own was also added. That was another big release for the band and, now two years on, following a Split alongside Ashen Tomb, the band return for album three in the form of Crimson Moon Evocation slated for a February 28th release date. Their first album released through Dark Descent Records, Sepulchral Curse have been climbing the ladder rapidly and so we come to the question as to whether the band have go three for three in quality studio albums.
If there’s one thing to be mentioned right away, it’s how vast everything sounds. When one listens to this record they’re instantly swept up in the overwhelming flow their strength possesses; this isn’t the same as being repeatedly punched in the throat but as if we’ve been hurtled down a tube and our body is constantly buffeted and assailed on all sides so by the time we’ve come out of the end, we’re in no physical shape to stand. The band’s strength comes at us from all sides but the impacts aren’t always with the fullest force. Their songwriting relaxes now and again to give us the levity required to breathe and interpret what has transpired, and what is coming next. Their calmer moments still feel on the brink of going rabid though it’s a much more controlled performance and therefore is no less devastating than their most breakneck sequences.
I think their production quality has only continued to rise as we’ve moved from album to album, whereby we’ve reached the point where Sepulchral Curse have mastered those sense of chaotic clarity. Though it’s evident their soundscape is this tumultuous space that rises and crashes like rogue waves at storm, there’s a peculiarly pristine view into their performance. Where many bands establish a fog of sorts, diminishing our view into the full breadth of a performance, Sepulchral Curse unveil themselves entirely and give us the full vista to behold as opposed to some obscured vision. All the while this is laid out for us, the magnitude of their power remains the same, if not increased somewhat. It’s staggering how they’ve crafted a record whose listening experience is reminiscent to polished marble, not a crevasse nor indenture in sight, yet retains an undeniably punishing, salivating performance that will push you back into your chair. It’s difficult to get that balance right, for ensuring clarity can often result in a weakened impact. Sepulchral Curse have learnt over the years how to capture what they believe is their signature sound and, with Crimson Moon Evocations, I think they’ve finally nailed it.
Half the reason this album feels so menacing lies with the drumming. The bass drums herein are absolutely merciless for when the band’s tempo reaches its apex, their injections of bass account for half the band’s power. You’ll be on the receiving end of a sweeping, visceral riff that’s complemented by the recognisably prolonged vocals the band have thrown us across records, but then you have the drums coming into play and they effectively take the record from dynamite-grade detonations to a full fledged nuclear arsenal. Given the ferocity the band often play with it makes for an relentless experience for other than those calmer segments where the songwriting relaxes momentarily, the band are constantly going for you. There’s also no hiding from the band since the mix has rendered the bass with considerable volume and shape; it’s far from a bass sound that’s been relegated to the background. The band want you to feel the full might of their reach and how far their arm may extend from record to yourself.
We’ve firmly established this is a brutal and pummelling experience, we’d expect no less from Sepulchral Curse at this point. However what definitely seems to be an underrated point is how the band are capable at bringing such volumes of annihilation but maintain an exquisite ease of listening. I believe it lies in the mix; I’ve heard the full brunt of the band’s performance in past releases but through Crimson Moon Evocations I feel like they’ve perfectly nailed the true aesthetic their sound needs to reach its fullest fruition. The mix makes the band feel like they’ve positioned themselves a little further towards the back of the stage, if only to give their sound the appropriate distance, conveying their power properly whereby it’s entertainment isn’t diminished by squashing those sound waves. It’s more than evident that the band have power in droves yet at no point will you feel overwhelmed, or feel as if you missed something integral to a track. The mix doesn’t thrust the band right in your face as such intimate proximity would render their record more difficult to thoroughly appreciate. The vocals too are a little further within the mix, they don’t feel as close to us but given the inherent bellowing contained in such a delivery it works for the band, enabling them to focus upon the instrumentation which manages to enthral us without punishing us for listening.
In conclusion, Crimson Moon Evocations may just be the band’s greatest album release yet. Though the band have never missed in quality across their studio releases, I can’t help but feel like their third album here is a real watershed moment that will take them from the plethora of newer Finnish acts into the modern pantheon of their nation’s metal offering. It manages to be simultaneously scathing yet smooth as silk, all the while balancing vocals more than at home with sustained chords alongside double bass drums that slaughter us at every turn. By the record’s end you’ll kindly feel not only satisfied but still full of energy as the band haven’t gone out of their way to sap you completely, giving you the choice, should you wish it, to experience this record front to back all over again. It’s an extremely fine tuned record that sees the band take great strides forward in crafting what they think is their preferred sound and the means by which their performance is conveyed. I think it’s going to dazzle a great many people including the old guard of their own fanbase; Crimson Moon Evocations genuinely feels to be the band’s finest hour yet.
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