LORD OF PAGATHORN is a Finnish black metal band who formed in 1992.  "Age Of Curse," is their third full length album.  Over the years they have also released three demo albums and an EP.

"Age Of Curse," is an album that fits firmly into the more traditional side of black metal.  As such it is raw but it surprisingly still contains melody in places. It does depend on familiar tropes of the genre but there isn't denying their song writing prowess.  Although it is raw, the production is actually pretty solid although I feel the vocals are too loud and up front in the mix.  With that being said, the vocals are killer—very aggressive and not too high pitched and monotonous.  The first two tracks, which I will speak about below, didn't really impress me but once the third tracks hits, the album is all fire.

The first track, "Burning Ominous Words," is an intro with clean guitar.  It isn't really anything special and doesn't seem to connect to the first track, "Baneful Curse To Destroy Them All," very well. That track hits hard with tremolo picking, insanely speedy drums and the spiteful vocal attack one comes to expect from something this old school.  The melodic parts create a bleak atmosphere but overall the song didn't excite me much.

"Conqueror of Im-Kharasak," is a the next track and what a banger!  The rhythm guitar is tight as hell, catchy and somewhat groove oriented rhythm.  The lead guitar also brings it hard, creating notes that bridge the gapes between the riffs that keep the song flowing smoothly.  The final half of the song is pretty atmospheric with riffs that combine imaginative melody.

"Over Throned," starts out with crazy riffs and loaded drumming that builds up instant momentum.  The lead guitar shines with catchy playing that is interrogated well with the song.  I liked how the vocals, which don't even sound human, went alongside the riffs.  The guitar around the 2:30 mark drives the song forward, very head banging and uncompromising.

The title track is marked by unrelenting drumming and dense riffs that turn the song into a wall of sound that stands resolute. Riff after riff hits in waves that tear down and quickly build up again-this song just doesn't stop.  The last minute or so is a jam session with the band just hammering down on everything that make the song great, riding it out until the very end.

"Crush The Holy Spirit," is one of the album's best tracks.  This is one hell of a blasphemous ride that sees the band pulling out all the stops and coming together.  The keys give it an ethereal and theatrical feet.  It isn't overly though and it highlights the riffs, which are among the best on the album.

The final track, "Dragging In The Dust," is one of the heavier tracks on the album.  The song is slower than the rest which gives the riffs a somewhat muddy and dirty feel but still blackened as hell. Slight hints of melody are sprinkled throughout the track with give it just enough of an expansive mood. All in all, "Age of Curse," had me worried with the intro and first track but it quickly gains solid ground and picks up momentum to become a solid old school black metal album in the modern age.