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

Geist - Blueprints To Moderate Sedation

Labels: Cursed Monk Records/Black Omega Recordings/Trepanation Recordings

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 20 Sep 2023

Tracklist:

1. Future Eaters

2. Peeling Wax

3. One Less Leech

4. Vessel Of Nothing

5. Panic Addicts

6. Help Less

7. Mass Instruction

8. Every Aching Bone

9. Terminal

10. Leech Chewer

It's safe to say (once again) that I am completely out of my rhythm. Still, I'm hoping that this Halloween night will be the catalyst to reverse my lack of productivity. It helps that my accompaniment comes in the form of UK hardcore-punk/pv band Geist. Their latest full-length Blueprints To Moderate Sedation was released in September with physical copies coming courtesy of Cursed Monk Records, Black Omega Recordings and Trepanation Recordings.

The pitch-black/dank facade I look out on is almost perfect this evening, especially when it’s set to the new Geist record. Album opener ‘Future Eaters’ is a bleak hardcore song filled with frenzied metallic riffs, a venomous low-end and intense drumming, while the vocals instantly grab your attention thanks to their powerviolence crossed with old school hardcore-punk delivery. ‘Peeling Wax’ sees Geist compress their sound and song-writing (not for the first time) into a sub two-minute blast, except this time there’s more math subtlety, if that’s even a thing.

The slower tempo that greets you on ‘One Less Leech’ brings back everything that’s great about UK powerviolence for me. That thicc guitar sound, sludgy atmosphere and the constant anticipation of a huge shift in pace. That shift comes and when it does it’s fantastic. Geist’s ability to change course musically is brilliant and that course changes again with ‘Vessel Of Nothing’, which slows and lowers the mood even further. I guess if Eyehategod and Blood Incantation collaborated, it might be akin to this maybe?

‘Panic Addicts’ sets you back on a more familiar path with a short and succinct blast of hardcore, while ‘Help Less’ and it’s downtempo atmosphere paints a bleak picture, critiquing on the current social and economic environment in which we live. As human beings we’re inherently selfish and this song reminds us so. 

Given how the last few years have gone ‘Mass Instruction’ is an apt song-title and while people are still divided, life goes on. I’m just thankful that music like this is still being released, as it proves that there is still freedom of thought in society (despite what religious bigots and conspiracy theorists tell you!). ‘Every Aching Bone’ moderates the anger within only slightly, with a more straight-forward outlook. 

Before you know it, penultimate song ’Terminal’ is upon you with it’s sampled, bass-heavy intro and off-kilter sludge that follows. It’s harrowing to say the least, but also sort of euphoric at the same time. There is a pleasure to be had from listening to extreme music and this hits the sweet spot. Closer ‘Leech Chewer’ rages even when It’s dialled back to mere feedback. 

It’s been one hell of a journey during these ten songs. When two working days have already felt like five, there’s not much room for rest. Blueprints To Moderate Sedation does nothing to turn off the overactive mind and mine’s racing a mile a minute. It’s a fantastic record and hopefully it’s battery will lead to peace.

You can purchase the album digitally and on vinyl/tape formats from Geist below:-

Geist - https://www.facebook.com/ukgeist

Copies are also available from the labels below:-

Cursed Monk Records - https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/merch

Black Omega Recordings - https://blackomegarecordings.bigcartel.com/

Trepanation Recordings - https://trepanationrecordings.bandcamp.com/merch

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

Black Omega Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/BlackOmegaRecordings

Trepanation Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/TrepRec

Geist - Swarming Season

Labels: Cursed Monk Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 20 Sep 2019

Tracklist:

1. Unnatural Selection

2. Western Medicine

3. Breathe Soundless Light

4. Sleep Deprived

5. Election Day

6. Silent Hive

7. Kennel Cough

8. Buried Language

Nearly the end of another weekend and once again I have writer's block. I've been waiting to write this review and at times over the last 24 hours I've struggled for the right words. Thankfully, inspiration comes in the weirdest of ways and I'm ready to go again. After a long period of silence, Geist is about to return with a new record. Due for release in late September via Cursed Monk Records, "Swarming Season" features eight new chaotic heavy hardcore songs and a special guest as well (but I ain't giving that one away). 

Anger makes the heart grow fonder. Anger is a primal human response to a lot of things and in this instance, Geist harnesses it for the sake of musical cleansing on “Swarming Season”. Opener Unnatural Selection is instantly crushable thanks to metallic guitars, powerfully authoritative percussion, deep rumbling bass and instantly addictive screams. This sets the tone for the rest of the record. Angular and crazed without reproach. Punk-like tones greet you at the beginning of Western Medicine, but that feeling of safety and familiarity soon dissipates into something more sinister and heavy. Geist’s writing has certainly grown and this record is testament to that growth, both live and in the studio. 

Most bands seems to ignore the quality over quantity rule, but not here. The songs on “Swarming Season” aren’t long and sticking to single-figures in terms of song number is good. Breathe Soundless Light is subtly mid-paced with an overbearing sense of dread flowing though it. Nothing outstays it’s welcome, while the rage grows more evident. From there it’s onto the grinding madness of Sleep Deprived. This song describes how I felt for the majority of last weeks, both in title and in texture and it’s not pretty. Fast insanity with the kind of intense progression that marks Geist out as a contender for the top-tier (sorry if that’s too much praise). 

Election Day harnesses the ill feeling that’s been aimed at our Government of late and it continues in the same belligerent vein as Sleep Deprived, except for the dread-filled final bars that come complete with super-heavy sludgy riffs. The screams that help kick off Silent Hive are almost blood curdling. There’s no way you could be prepared for them and they fit the song perfectly. Again, it’s a mid-paced song that seems to crawl along at a simple but claustrophobic tempo. It suits the heaviness though and is truly disparate.

It’s left to the final two songs to hammer home Geist’s modus-operandi on “Swarming Season” and Kennel Cough goes straight for the jugular before retreating back with Primitive Man-style guitar work. They don’t stick to that pace for long though and banish it with more angular hardcore and PV-esque insanity. Buried Language is more of the same and rounds out the album as breathlessly as when it started. The production/mixing/mastering helps make “Swarming Season” come to life in ways that other albums can’t and in turn helps it become one that will stick in your mind and ears for a long time. Awesome.

You can stream Sleep Deprived prior to the full release via Geist's bandcamp page below:-

Geist - https://www.facebook.com/ukgeist/

CD/Digital pre-orders can by purchased from Cursed Monk Records here - 

https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/swarming-season

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