YOUR FUNERAL: Okay, Who Hit The AWESOME Button?

3.4.08

Okay, Who Hit The AWESOME Button?

Wow. All these shows have been so much fucking fun, every single one of them has been chaotic and great, seriously. Thanks to Sonic Boom for everything last weekend. And everyone in Hamilton. That show with Taken was audio & video-recorded so we're gonna put something DVD-like together with that and all the live footage from the last 7 years that we can muster. By the way, III was Now Magazine's Record of the Week, and there's also some reviews up on Stereokiller, Lambgoat, PRP and others. Apparently the record really whoops a cheetahs ass (Wesley Willis, I miss you).

This weekend's the second last of these blowouts. We head out tomorrow for Ottawa (there's been a late show added at End Hits), and Montreal (late show also added at BlackDot and the "special guaests" are indeed BIONIC (Mtl) and Monotonix (from Tel Aviv) - doors 12AM), and then Peterborough on Sunday. And what the shit - it looks like we'll finally have the proper Cursed III vinyl with us!

Also, and this is kind of premature, but just 'cause people are asking - no it's not a sick April Fools joke. Yes, we are trying to set up tour in Japan and Australia, with the help of the good folks at Howling Bull and Resist Records, respectively. And if we can swing it, maybe New Zealand too. Hopefully it's gonna happen. As soon as I get more official word about it all, I'll post it here.

P.S. "It's called 'Witchcraft', Shortbus."

8 comments:

Anonymous said...: Friday and the Sonic Boom show were amazing. Oh and thanks for the pins!
I might come out to the kitchener show to get my hands on the III vinyl.; 3.4.08
Anonymous said...: Come to the US already, specifically NYC and/or NJ.; 3.4.08
Anonymous said...: Seriously, U.S. dates soon! We too would like to have chaotic and great shows with the new tunes.; 4.4.08
Philip C. Williams said...: New Zealand. Please do it.; 5.4.08
Anonymous said...: aus tour oh please come true!!!; 8.4.08
Sarajevo Rose said...: I attempted to comment earlier and I think I may have fucked up. I already have two tickets on hold for the London show and am wondering if it's possible to have a third held?; 8.4.08
Anonymous said...: backed on the nz visit. awesome; 23.4.08
Anonymous said...: Seriously, come back to the US (although I'm stoked for all my Aussie friends of course). I'll book you a show at 924 Gilman, it'll be great.

xveganmilitantx[at]hotmail[dot]com if you want to hit me up...; 29.4.08

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Some Reviews for III

Now Magazine (4/5)

"It would be hard to find another band in our own backyard as consistently bludgeoning and intense as Cursed. On their third album, Cursed remain true to their last two musical pummel-fests with a potent mix of hardcore, metal and doom.
Some genuinely fierce and dense production helps the band sound remarkably huge, while the songs themselves are quick, focused and determined to push the level of aggression as far as it can go. Occasionally, Cursed draw things out a little, as they do on Friends In The Music Business and closing instrumental track Gutters, offering momentary relief from the otherwise relentless pacing. Raw emotion is their greatest asset, and they’ve successfully channelled it here." (Evan Davies)

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Lambgoat (9/10)

"The following statement is far from a secret: Cursed fucking rules. As arguably the best act in the modern hardcore scene, the Canadian foursome has unleashed another installment in their appropriately named full-length series and the result is yet another half hour slab of pissed off mayhem. And in a heavy music world where bands seem to have the tendency to get caught up in lackluster melodic experimentation after a few releases, Cursed has kept their sound exactly where it belongs: deeply rooted in sludgy, crust-tinged hardcore.
So while Three might not pack any major musical surprises, the execution and songwriting is nearly flawless. The one-two punch of the noisy, quote-filled intro, "Architects of Troubled Sleep," and the blazingly fast, blast-beat heavy "Night Terrors" is quick to display that Cursed hasn't lost a step. And just like prior releases, intelligent lyrics reflecting complete political disdain continue to anchor the band, easily distancing them from the abundance of mundane lyrical topics in the rest of modern hardcore. Cursed's ability to avoid repetitive songwriting also sets Three apart from the pack. The His Hero is Gone lean of songs like "Magic Fingers" and "Hegel's Bastards" might be the best representation of the band's sound, but this album is far from eleven identical tracks. "Unnecessary Person" is a slow paced, meandering catharsis of dirty guitar hooks and Chris Colohan's downright depressing vocals. When coupled with the preceding instrumental interlude, "III," the pair of tracks gives an added dimension to a band known primarily for their up-tempo intensity. And then there's "Friends in the Music Business," a track so abrasive and punishing that even veteran listeners desensitized to many things heavy will find it impossible not to appreciate the thick, sludgy bass lines and Colohan's coarse screams of "Don't call me, I won't call you."
Three rarely misses throughout its duration. Cursed's mixture of sludge, crust, and hardcore was certainly to be expected, but the band's songwriting variation and ability to simply do what they do better than anyone else make this album a must have. "Gutters," the record's closer, might be a bit excessive as it drones on for over seven minutes, but the potential misstep is saved by the stellar analog recording that allows the song to flourish due to its great guitar tone. And after the destruction that the first ten tracks provided, a subdued closer actually feels quite fitting. Bottom Line: Three is just one more reason why Cursed sits atop the modern hardcore scene. As a perfect extension to the rest of their catalog, it's the sludgy hardcore that past fans deserve and that new fans need". (Nick)
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The PRP (4/5)

"Cursed's unrelenting virulence has yet to offset the stereotypical politeness Canadians are branded with, but damned if they don't try. While there has been some subtitle deviation in the bands album naming scheme this time out, the music itself remains business as usual. A raw gritty downwash of acidic guitars, bestial vocals and crushing rhythmic intensity that revels in conveying evil intentions. Simply put, Cursed continue their reign as one of Canada's most vicious exports. As evidenced by their "Blackout At Sunrise" EP, Cursed haven't been sitting on their laurels however and while the group still sonically resemble the blackened fury of a gutter dwelling Converge, their interest in sludge and ambient experimentation has begun to seep through the cracks more and more. In turn, while generally an unrelenting metallic juggernaut of an album, "III: The Architects Of Troubled Sleep" has some much-appreciated depth and downtime. Unlike most bands who get the itch to broaden their horizons, Cursed shift the balance towards doing what they do best, utterly tearing the listeners face off track after track. But with the added maturity and the occasionally explorative breather, their malevolence now takes on a more human nature, making it even deadlier. Routinely harsh and discordant, the fury that this band so ably capture remains intoxicating, authentic and pumped straight from their bitter, diseased hearts". (Wookubus)

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"Just sold one of their records on Ebay. Made a FORTUNE."

-Chadster (Lambgoat)

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Stereokiller (92/100)

"Put down whatever garbage you are currently listening to and get on this. I picked up Cursed II after reading a review on this site around the time it was released and it was probably the best CD purchase I made that year. This album is follows suit opening up after the intro track with a ferocity that demands attention from anyone within hearing distance and carrying that energy throughout the entire length of the album without ever getting boring. That being said this album has already become my #1 contender for Hardcore album of 2008 and is definitely one you are going to want to get your grubby broke hands on. BUY THIS SHIT. Lyrically, Colohan shines as always and like previous albums you can expect more "Blah blah blah, Freemasons are taking over the world. I hate work. Life sucks." to take the words from Colohan's own mouth, but perfected to a new level and coupled with his most pissed off delivery yet making this a very notable step up from II. Night Terrors now reigns as new favorite "pissed off at work song", surpassing Another day an older gem of theirs off of I. Other memorable tracks include Into the Hive and Friends in the Music Business, showcasing some of the best riffs their dirty sound has to offer you as of this point. I highly recommend both these tracks as well Night Terrors to anyone who hasn't had a chance to hear them yet. 100% pissed off exactly how I like my music and this album delivers. If you have ever liked Cursed, Hardcore, or heavy music for that matter you will want to get your hands on this. I'd give it a higher rating but there is no category for pure awesome so keep that in mind. End jerkoff". (Shit)

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"A nine? Are you fucking kidding me? This shits boring as hell 2>this shit." (LG)

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Montreal Mirror - Disc of the Week (9/10)

Toronto’s Cursed stormed the gates of aggressive music with 2005’s II, but on this follow-up, they snag the hardcore crown with a brutal beatdown. Providing the calm before the storm, things start off with a musique concrète piece before heaving out the blast beats in the 90-second “Night Terrors.” The band is at an adventurous peak here, eager to pull hardcore out of the mire with the doom/noise epic “Friends in the Music Business,” and although they touch on hardcore
lyrical staples like organized religion and the drudgery of blue-collar life, singer Chris Colohan serves it up with intelligence and honesty. Just fucking amazing.
9/10 (Johnson Cummins)

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NoneLouder

"I know it’s early in the year to start throwing around the term “Best Record” but the third Cursed record, “III: Architects Of Troubled Sleep” has bashed down my door and beaten me to death with the steel bat of excellence until my freshly crushed skull lay limp and bleeding. This is not a record so much as an explosion, a channeling of negative poisons throughout the world and the funneling of those poisons into a sonic format so harsh, so brutal that the mind reels...I suppose I get all gushy over a band like Cursed because they mean what they say and play what they mean. Being in the metal world you get a lot of posing, a lot of bands that either suck and won’t admit it or are so busy posturing how “true” or “evil” they that they lose focus on the records they make. Cursed are a band that seem focused only on writing albums that exhaust the limits of where heavy music can go. With so much music marred by faux rebellion, scene-fueled rock-stars strutting rather than creating, a band like Cursed is a small miracle."
(Iann Robinson)

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3.4.08

Okay, Who Hit The AWESOME Button?

8 comments:

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Some Reviews for III