Hutch checks out the latest offering from War Curse… here’s what he thinks

I’m sure the name War Curse was familiar to me, and sure enough, a quick trawl through the archives reveals I reviewed Eradication, the second release from the US thrashers for Musipedia of Metal in 2019. I described it as “One big circle pit of excellence from start to finish”.  

To be honest, I can’t remember much about the album, but clearly the band’s name resonated enough for me to throw my hat in the ring for their next album, Confession. Reading the blurb that is provided, there is a warning in some respects, with reference to Confession being War Curse’s Black album. Whoaa! Let’s hit the brakes here. There’s a bit to unpick.  

Tour plans decimated due to the pandemic; War Curse faced a simple choice. End it all or get those instruments back out and begin writing the third album. It took over a year for the writing to complete. An opportunity to take things apart, strip down and rewrite. The luxury that wasn’t on offer prior to 2020 but which served many so well. That pause and reflection. “We set out to make an album in the truest sense of the word, not just a collection of songs” says guitarist Justin Roth.  

Vocalist Blaine Gordon has benefited from this process. Whilst he stepped in at late notice for Eradication, Confession is his first opportunity to show his ability to the max. He does that with aplomb, although his slight similarity to David Draiman on occasion does unnerve me, just a little. What he brings is a more melodic approach, one that War Curse are very comfortable with.  

Confession certainly contains plenty of melody. But to say that it’s not a thrash album would be incorrect. The pace, the power, the drive – they are all still here. But their sound has expanded, the band admit they threw away songs which would have worked well on previous albums. Roth again: “As far as our current direction, the music we consume is all over the map, a lot of it way outside of the metal sphere. I hear bands doing new, interesting things with their music and I want to be able to do the same with mine. If I lose my thrash card for it, oh well, I’ll hand in my battle vest.” 

So, what does Confession bring? Excellently played music for a start. Whether the gatekeepers will clash it as pure thrash is debatable, but, like Metallica in 1990, War Curse’s roots are deep enough to keep them linked with the genre. The title track is one example, a blend of melodic metal and crushing, explosive thrash in four-minutes. The fact that War Curse are content to shift their music, incorporating groove, modern breakdowns and several other elements surely is to their credit. Playing 1986 all over again just isn’t enough these days.  

It’s not all roses though. Although Confessions is an enjoyable listen, and contains some excellent guitar work, there are times when it feels a little routine. Miracle Broker is for me a little average, especially following the power of the opening trio,  The Nothing (That is Me), Fortress of Agony, and the title track. One could argue that Power of the Powerless draws far too much from Metallica in style. That’s for debate, including whether Gordon slips into his best Papa Het impression at one part. It’s a solid, if unspectacular.  

The Convoy sees Gordon slip into Chuck Billy circa 1999, but his powerful vocals push through in a song that holds the attention despite a rather sluggish final part. This continues with Return to Dust, which is almost Testament worship, but is one of the most robust songs here. It’s a feisty bruiser, with a neat groove that leaves it linger as one of the most memorable tracks on Confession.  

Pausing to explore the album title a little, reveals that the band thought long and hard about it. Leaving themselves wide open to critical eyes and ears, it’s as much about being out there as the other connotation, the focus of course on the Catholic church’s ‘loophole’. “Be a piece of shit your entire life, murder, rape, steal, and as long as you tell the guy in the wooden box what you’ve done, all is forgiven”.  

With social commentary underpinning several of the songs, Confession has enough teeth to allow those old school thrashers to get involved, whilst those who like a more contemporary feel to their metal should also be happily engaged. It’s a step into the unknown in some respects, but with a confidence in their own ability and direction, that’s not a bad thing. Check out Confession. It’s a solid album with an overall power that ensures you know where they came from, without having to plaster it all over the walls.  

War Curse, Confession is out tomorrow the 20 October 2023 via Metal Blade Records