Pariah - Violence Is A Curse

Labels: Cursed Monk Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 28 Feb 2025

Tracklist: 

1. Life/Redemption

2. Parasite's Refrain

3. Within My Skin

4. Endless Circles

5. The Swarm

Fifteen years into this blog and it feels like I've moved further away from what I started. Heavy music in the UK was the backbone and discovering new bands was the purpose. Life gets in the way though and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't long for the connections I had and the visceral emotions I felt at gigs/festivals. 

This all leads me to Pariah. A quartet of musicians that released their debut record in February. A band that both benefits from and adds to the rich history of the UK scene. They released five honest, crushing songs via Cursed Monk Records, who in turn is a proud supporter of UK heavy music.

Pariah’s sound is mired in unnerving noise and heavy metallic hardcore, reminiscent of what used to come out of the CoF stable back in the day. ‘Life/Redemption’ is filled with chunky riffs, shattering percussion/bass and bile-filled vocals. The song’s tone and atmosphere highlights a lot of anger and that emotion spills into ‘Parasite’s Refrain’, which leaves the band’s sludgier/slower tempo behind in favour of faster metallic hardcore. Frantic and brilliant.

‘Within my Skin’ is filled with palpable intensity and energy. Pariah’s metallic sound shines through again here, alongside a gnarlier aggressive edge. The switch between nastier, slower songs and those that are much faster keeps anticipation levels up as ‘Endless Circles’ (despite the name) sees the quartet going about their business in succinct fashion. Closing with ‘The Swarm’, Pariah level everything and everyone with sheer heaviness. It’s sound is in some ways familiar but also refreshing too. 

This EP has been moulded from a blueprint that was forged by Northern England’s heavy music community. A wide network of people, bands and gig promoters that support each other. With the return of revered UK festival Ghostfest this year, Leeds venue Boom rising like a Phoenix out of almost nowhere and of course Pariah (with help of co-conspirators Cursed Monk Records), there’s plenty of reasons to be excited.

You can stream and purchase Violence Is A Curse on physical/digital formats from Pariah below:-

It's also available to buy on vinyl from Cursed Monk Records here:-

https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/merch. 

No news on CD copies (unless I've missed an announcement) but keep an eye on the band/label pages below:-

Pariah Instagram - @pariahnoise

Cursed Monk Records - https://www.facebook.com/cursedmonk