Monday 14 December 2015

This Gift Is A Curse - "All Hail The Swinelord" (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 16/10/2015
Label: Season of Mist



It's very difficult to describe the music on this; such is the profound effect it's had. Think Nails with Black Metal and Sludge influences and you'd be on the right track. I can envisage a few end of year lists needing readjustment after hearing this. A future classic? Time will tell.


“All Hail The Swinelord” CD//DD//LP

1. Swinelord
2. New Temples
3. Rites
4. XI: For I Am The Fire
5. Hanging Feet
6. Old Lies
7. We Use Your Dead As Vessels
8. Askrådare

This Gift is a Curse is:

Jonas A. Holmberg | vocals
Lars Gunnarsson | bass
Johan Nordlund | drums
Patrik Andersson | guitars & vocals

The Review:

This Gift Is A Curse have just blown my mind, so excuse me while I try to gather some coherent thought to appropriately review this thing.

An overwhelming atmospheric weight seems to be forcing the walls in. Angular stabs of distortion swarm like flies around an abandoned cadaver. Screams and shrieks echo and warn of peril, like prophetic crows gathering. Furious hordes of undead mercenaries tear at flesh and bone, sparing no one. Molten lava spews vehemently from cracks in the earth, destroying cities and villages in seconds. Angels with clipped wings scream supersonically among the wreckage, their eyes streaming bloody tears. Holy men denounce their faiths and open their veins. Mountains crumble and seas overflow. You take a deep breath as you stare death in its unfathomable abyss, and then you close your eyes. And blink. Could it have all been a dream or was it a premonition? Then, out the corner of your eye, you notice a crow...and then another...

It's very difficult to describe the music on this; such is the profound effect it's had. Think Nails with Black Metal and Sludge influences and you'd be on the right track. I can envisage a few end of year lists needing readjustment after hearing this. A future classic? Time will tell.


“All Hail The Swinelord” is available here

FFO: Celeste, Hexis, The Secret, Coffinworm

Band info: facebook | bandcamp