The Pitch: Portland-based noise rock/sludge group ILS drop their debut album via P.O.G.O. FFO: Daughters, Jesus Lizard, Haan
What I Like: ILS' EP Pain Do Not Hurt was a surprise hit for me in 2019, and one of the few rock records even worth a damn in a mostly dead genre. Hearing those tracks now as a part of this fully fleshed out release only furthers my excitement over the potential of this band. Listening to Curse is like experiencing a supergroup made up of members of Clutch and Daughters that also detours into "Jizzlobber" levels of Mike Patton's most harsh and depraved moments. This vocal dichotomy makes ILS the perfect band for rock and metal listeners alike; with an aesthetic that runs the gamut from the psychodelic, desert stoner sludge of "Curse" and "Noose" to the pounding, driving metallic hardcore of "Bad Parts" and returning favorite "No Luck."
Critiques: A few of the tracks come off as a little repetetive and uninspired musically, namely "White Meat" and "Northstar."
The Verdict: If you're like me and either grew up during the grunge and noise heights of 90's alternative radio or just miss hearing actual ROCK music instead of the highly filtered, bastardized version we get today, I implore you to pick up Curse right now.
Flight's Fav's: Bad Parts, Curse, No Luck
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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