ALBUM REVIEW: Bright Curse - "Before The Shore"

By: Bobo Cohen

 

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 13/05/2016
Label: HeviSike Records

 

 

 

There are so many different influences bubbling under the surface, the album is crammed with more ideas and curve balls than many experienced bands pack in to a whole album and will undoubtedly catch many listeners of guard. For a band to be writing at this level on their second album is staggering and dare I say it bodes well for a bright future! A total gem of an album that defiantly deserves a place on anyone’s top ten list of the year

 

“Before The Shore” DD//LP track listing:

1). Lady Freedom

2). The Shore

3). Cheating Pain

4). Walking in the Graveyard (Bloody Witch)

5). Candles and Flowers

6). Northern Sky

7). Earth’s Last Song

 

The Review:

 

HeviSike Records have been active for a few years now and have slowly built a reputation for quality releases. Their latest release by Bright Curse, in the form of “Before the Shore” and their second album is a gem that lives up to, and enhances that reputation, it is made up of seven tracks of Retro Drenched Riffs. It equally lulls you in to chilled grooves then kicks like an angry mule,

 

“Lady Freedom”, starts with a shout of Ready? Before launching into a riff Uriah Heep would have been proud off. Roman Daut’s melodic yet strong vocals underline the quality of the song coupled with a strong repetitive riff, with hints UFO running through it and a killer guitar solo to match, this is an excellent opening statement that lays out their stall. “The Shore” opens with another stomping riff then throws a curveball as the vocals come in quiet, invoking a reflective tone to the music, with the Lyrics drawing you into the story. It then explodes briefly into a chorus that will go around and around in your head. It’s perfectly paced for another lovely solo before a rocking conclusion to the song.
 

“Cheating Pain” starts with an almost Wolfmother type vocal melody accompanied by tasteful playing from the rhythm department. The chorus recalls a grunge vibe with some excellent backing vocals before a spoken word middle section hit you like a cross between The Doors & the “Apocalypse Now” soundtrack. The excellently named “Walking in a Graveyard (Bloody Witch)” starts with another powerful riff before a strong vocal refrain, again taking the music in unexpected directions. A Sabbath influenced jazzy guitar tone underlines this mood. Normal service is resumed by time it reaches the chorus as Lizzy style riffing ensues, complete with a full bore guitar solo that allows the rhythm section to open up and roar

 

“Candles and Flowers” packs an Iommi style riff and again some understated playing before kicking up a gear with a monster second riff that gets another strong Lizzy groove going. It settles into this headspace complete with excellent call & response chorus. They pull of the trick of moving between quieter moments and huge riffs and for me this is the strongest song on the album so far. “Northern Sky” starts with a subtle Hammond Organ underpinning soulful vocals and adds another flavour to an album already packed full of them. This is the most melodic song on album and perhaps the closest to a ballad, with beautiful and delicate guitar playing complemented by the Hammondwhich recalls Deep Purple at their most vulnerable, before it unleashes a Jon Lord style solo that will get your foot tapping. It has a huge chorus and will surely be a fan favourite live.

“Earth's Last Song” starts with a laid back groove and bluesy guitar playing reminiscent of the ‘Purple vibe present on the previous song. It evolves into a chorus than can only be classed as epic. It builds and builds, to a guitar solo that just lifts the song to a higher level with plenty of wah pedal abuse. The climax of song is the chorus and the eight minutes plus have gone by in flash.

Overall this is an album that on the surface sits nicely within retro stoner scene, but on repeated plays reveals much more substance than that. There are so many different influences bubbling under the surface, the album is crammed with more ideas and curve balls than many experienced bands pack in to a whole album and will undoubtedly catch many listeners of guard. For a band to be writing at this level on their second album is staggering and dare I say it bodes well for a bright future!

 

A total gem of an album that defiantly deserves a place on any one’s top ten list of the year

 

“Before The Shore” is available here

Band info: facebook