ATARAXY - Curse of the Requiem
Mass (ME SACO UN OJO / DETEST - LP 2010)
Ataraxy’s “Curse of the Requiem Mass” may not
be the most original and crushing death metal release of all time – it actually
is the opposite: it offers a well known and recently quite frequently traversed
path of Swedish sounding death metal, influenced by the cult acts such as Dismember,
Entombed, Grave, Carnage as well as by the American legends of Autopsy, Death
and Repulsion. But despite the fact that what Ataraxy plays is something you
can also find on many other releases, I still really enjoyed this album. Why?
Well, first of all originality has never been something I would bother myself
and definitely it is not something what for me makes the music to be good.
Secondly, even if I can find some bands, which do this stuff better than
Ataraxy and some people will probably say that they will prefer the originals
only, I again don’t care, because what for me is significant is the fact that
the Spanish band plays the music with a lot of passion and enthusiasm and that
the sounds, which they created for this MLP are memorable but also dark and horrid,
that the music is filled with energy and powerful riffs, plus some excellent
melodies and finally that it is just bloody good. “Curse of the Requiem Mass”
is one of those releases, which catch your attention right from the first
listen; it doesn’t require a dozen of listens to get the band’s point and to
understand what their aims were and what the music is all about. No, “Curse of the
Requiem Mass” will crush you instantly and hook you for your guts, ripping them
mercilessly without any problems; nicely and smoothly it will torture you with
crushing riffs and ghastly vocals. Obviously that may again be a weaker side of
such music – some people like to discover the album and get to know it with
several listening. Sure, I also sometimes like such LPs, but sometimes I also
like something straight forward and to the point; and “Curse of the Requiem
Mass” is surely such an album.
The songs contain several awesome riffs and the
classic Swedish-like production and the whole infected me like crazy ever since
I’ve listened to it for the first time. I love the feeling and atmosphere of
this music – dark, sinister, ghastly, reminiscent of the classic horror movies.
“The Breaking Wheel” opens the album in great way, with some killer riffs and
classic Swedish melodies in the vein of Dismember and then we have a title
song, which also leaves no living behind, slaying mercilessly. This song is
actually pretty slow, but if you prefer some faster tunes then “The Last Stare”
will be perfect for you (although don’t expect ultra fast blasts anyway… it is
fast, but not Krisiun fast). Personally I think that “The Last Stare” is OK,
but it may be my least favourite song from this LP, as I prefer side B with “Bleed
to Death” and “Hear the Ghouls” – both are just awesome songs, with quite doomy
riffs here and there, some melodies also, all in all they freeze blood with
that creepy atmosphere, which I love about such sounds. “Bleed to Death” also
has some fast parts, so the devastation is guaranteed here! And in between
there’s “Undead’s Attack”, which also is just superb song. All in all I must
say that Ataraxy is awesome band and I really like this vinyl. They may not be
as 666% killer as their fellow countrymen from Graveyard – who surely are one
of the best bands around nowadays, but I think Ataraxy are not so far behind. I
definitely enjoyed “Curse of the Requiem Mass” a lot and now I cannot wait to
listen to their debut full length LP “Revelations of the Ethereal”. I already
have it on vinyl, so I’ll listen to it very soon.
Oh, once more I need to praise the guy, who
does the artwork for the album… This time it is Raul Gonzales, who also did
some truly excellent work for Morbus Chrom vinyls (love them!), Horrendous’
“The Chills” (again brilliant work) or Abraxas’ “Damnation”. For “Curse of the
Requiem Mass” he also did phenomenal job; the whole concept reminds me that
horror movie called “Descent” with those inhuman terrifying creatures living,
crawling in the caves. I don’t know whether the concept for the artwork of
“Curse of the Requiem Mass” was similar, but anyway the result is awesome. HEAR
THE GHOULS!
Standout tracks: “Hear the Ghouls”, “The
Breaking Wheel”, “Bleed to Death”
Final rate: 83/100
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