The UKBM scene is in surprisingly rude health right now, it must be said. With the likes of Caina, Winterfylleth and Fen turning out great releases, what better time for Skaldic Curse to unleash their World Suicide Machine on us? While they may have come to this particular reviewers' attention through the presence of ex-Akercocke six-stringer Paul Scanlan here going by the belief-beggaringly silly name Scapula. But despite their somewhat silly names (Woundz? Really?), Skaldic Curse are most definitely not silly. The band play a delightfully off-kilter brand of black metal, chunneling the fury of prime Mayhem through the discordant oddness of Deathspell Omega. And although many of the familiar reference points are there, Taake, Ulver etc. there's something different about Skaldic Curse, some unique unknown factor that sets them apart from the rest .This seems to be leading them to some big places, including a tour with label mates Taake. So if it comes to pass that Skaldic Curse end up conquering the planet, let it never be said that Metal Reviews didn't get in there early.

Despite the previously-made comparisons to Taake and Ulver, there's not quite the same sense of melody that those two bands had (Taake's recent work seems to be of a more abrasive nature, however, and as such is perhaps a better reference point). Instead, the riffs sound like a curious inversion of what those two bands are doing, the melodies, if they can be called that, sounding oddly skewed and unreal. There's a nod to more traditional forms of heavy metal in there, too, particularly in the thrash riffs and Slayer-esque soloing seen on the title track. It's definitely fair to say that Skaldic Curse lean to the nastier end of the blackened spectrum. Despite the songs' somewhat progressive approach to riff construction, there's none of the epic soundscapes or post-rock influence so fashionable in today's black metal landscape. Instead, Skaldic Curse have no greater goal than to tear your face off with coruscating sheets of tremelo riffs, topped off with the bilious shrieks of Woundz.

I'll admit I'd be lying if I said this was a perfect release of course. There's admittedly a touch of early Opeth in the way the band write songs. And what I mean by that, of course, is that they don't really write songs, more sticking lots of cool riffs end on end and hoping for the best. While this isn't enough to scuttle the album entirely, it does mean that each track has a tendency to wander about incoherently for several minutes. And this means your attention can wander a little bit from time to time, although luckily there are enough moments where they hit the mark to stop you from losing interest completely and shutting the thing off.

It's interesting to see where Skaldic Curse will head next. They've clearly got bags of potential, and the interest black metal fans finally seem to be taking in their countrymen means that special things could definitely happen for Skaldic Curse. They've got the riffs and the sound, they just need to tie it all together on their next release to make something truly special. Best of luck guys, and hopefully we'll see you in the big leagues yet.