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By JEFF MAKI
New Orleans' Goatwhore plays violent, dark, brutal black metal. A Haunting Curse, their first release for Metal Blade Records, was recorded at Eric Rutan's (Hate Eternal) Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Fla. Lead vocalist Ben Falgoust's guttural vocals serve as an instant identification for the band, unlike the many high-pitched wailers of the black metal genre.
Goatwhore has had its share of trials and tribulations over the last few years, from a near-fatal van crash which left Falgoust temporarily wheelchair-bound, to the band having to flee their homes in the wake of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. These trying times have had an obvious impact, as A Haunting Curse is one of the most pissed-off, angry, chaotic releases in some time. Songs like "Wear These Scars of Testimony" and "Bloodletting Upon the Cloven Hoof" serve as the blueprint for this album. It’s fast, brutal and hooks are not an option.
Goatwhore obviously accomplished what they set out to do with A Haunting Curse, making the most extreme album they could possibly produce. There are a few problems, however. With no sense of melody or anything really setting the songs apart, the album blends in as one massive song. There is little if any variety in the vocal department, making each growl and roar sound like the one you just heard. Aside from these few nuances, Goatwhore are top-notch extreme metal musicians.
A Haunting Curse should appeal to most fans of extreme metal. There are much better bands out there but also a lot worse.
www.goatwhore.net
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