CURSED EXCRUCIATION is a one man band from the country of Brazil who is a multi-talented musician known as TRANCE OF THE UNDEAD who plays all instruments and writes all the lyrics as well as being the vocalist. This Brazilian one band began in 2020 with a black and death metal sound, or as we tend to refer this as blackened death metal and they released two demos, the first was MORBID CATHOLICISM with three tracks followed by a second demo with INITIATION: THE OATH OF DARKNESS also containing three tracks both released in 2021. The band could be described as 'blackened death to the core, it boasted just enough tasty dungeon synth-inspired keyboard abuse to add a flavour of old school kvtness'.

So now the band are once more giving us a new release in the form of their debut album, titled ARCANE DIABOLISM which has been out since January of the new year of 2023. We begin with a short intro "The Call(Intro)" as we hear the haunting echoes of a keyboard sound gradually getting closer than a speaker with words of doom and gloom. Then we go straight into the next track which is "Initiation" , an emerging engine of guitar shredding as we hear deep, demonic vocals and crunching drum patterns that could be overshadowed by the other elements. But drums do fight back and make their presence well known as cymbal hits come into a short section with nightmare sounds of guitars as vocals do add the evil and discord that this black/death metal represents.

Towards the end of the second track we also hear cries of people symbolising the themes of death and gore, into the next track which is "Goetic Glorification" as we hear another crescendo of violent guitar riffs and loud punchy drums before vocals roar. Quick pulsating rhythms are in play with guitars and/or drums as we are halfway through the musical direction changes rhythm, more cymbal hits and guitar plays ascending notes. Back to the monstrous clashing of each instrument before we jump into the next track, which is "The Sorcerer Of Antioch" as the black metal sound is so clear but the tempo is not as fast as the previous track. A big gasp of vocals inspires guitars and drums to create the everlasting sounds of yet another ghastly track full of tortured tenacity in each aspect of the track, as we hear a loud clanging of a bell as well later on.

The additional of choral chants does well to make the track stand out, no time to hang about as we head into "Daughters Of Nyx" as amplified guitar feedback is in first growing in strength and hell-hath-no-fury like vocals is glowing with drums also supporting as it has done so before. The drums assemble the other elements for non stop electrifying metal mania as the metallic ringing of cymbals with eager guitar riffs create that death metal image we have heard so far. The closing section is merely a repeat of how the track started, slow drums with guitar feeding off the rhythm of drums, as we head into the next track "Beast Of Fire" as yet a burning sensation of a full band unison is firing on all cylinders. Faster and faster as we hear the pelting projections of drums, guitar raging as before with vocals like an animal off its leash, as the tempo of the track bounces in some way also.

It is literally all systems go with another jaw dropping extravaganza with wicked guitar riffs and drums murdering the overall mix of vocals being isolated when they speak. Now into the next track which is "Black Altar Sacrifice" as it signals the organ we heard before playing a dark and inescapable phrase of darkness. Guitar is next striking well, each note allowing itself to roar as vocals do as well, but vocals come and go with each grunt as the track makes good progress with each instrument making their mark on this track. Drums however are yet again slow once more as they take each step with caution knowing guitars and vocals are so dominant, that the drums are the backbeat as there are no heroics in the percussion side of this track, mostly ornamentation.

Very much a different track with lots of experimental twists and turns as we hear the well known pulsating rhythms of guitars and drums to lead us into the final frontier which is "The Rapture(Outro)". The previous track actually was the end of the musical course and the final track is a mixture of disturbing noises and occult soundscape as we also hear hints of the black metal one last time. Overall one or two tracks do leave a positive to take but as a whole album, I wasn't completely convinced by the band, black and death metal do certainly mix well together but perhaps this is where the band can focus on more going into their next release.