{"id":664211,"date":"2026-10-24T17:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T17:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/664211\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T17:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T17:22:12","slug":"cursebinder-psychohazard-review-angry-metal-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/664211\/","title":{"rendered":"Cursebinder – Psychohazard Review | Angry Metal Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In the Rush documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage, Jack Black describes musicians\u2019 wells of creative juices as \u2018rocket sauce.\u2019 He notes that some musicians and bands only muster enough for one BIG album, while others seem to run on an endless supply. This description stuck with me through the years, and remains my go-to reference when someone gilds whatever they touch. Krak\u00f3w vocalist Maciej Proficz is one such individual, and both his active projects Dormant Ordeal and Cursebinder run on vast reserves of rocket sauce while offering multifaceted interpretations of their respective genres. Dormant Ordeal\u2019s Tooth and Nail<\/a> landed at the #3 spot<\/a> in last year\u2019s Aggregated List; third album The Grand Scheme of Things<\/a> received a glowing review from Dr. Wvrm and appeared on several 2021 end-of-year lists despite a late December release, and Cursebinder\u2019s debut Drifting<\/a> found itself atop Carcharodon\u2019s Top Ten(ish) of 2023<\/a>. Such accolades can\u2019t guarantee future triumphs, but they can send expectations into the stratosphere\u2014does Cursebinder\u2019s sophomore album Psychohazard harness the rocket sauce to send us there?<\/p>\n

Though Cursebinder operates under the black metal umbrella, no single genre encapsulates Psychohazard\u2019s breadth. In his write-up of Drifting, Carcharodon cites doom, death, and post-metal as descriptors for Cursebinder\u2019s chameleonic character. Instead of using camouflage in a way that makes Psychohazard difficult to absorb or engage with, though, this Polish quartet employs it to disguise barriers between genres and inculcate an atmosphere both familiar and unique. Compared to Drifting, Psychohazard submits more direct applications of riffs (\u201cSaturnine Rage,\u201d \u201cPrayers for the Living, Flowers for the Dead\u201d) and synths (\u201cLimits\u201d), and where Drifting\u2019s genre-hopping evinced distinct moods with thoughtful transitions, Psychohazard blurs lines together with subtler craft. Psychohazard\u2019s first four tracks flow together in a sublime strand that ricochets between textured aggression (\u201cDeath Season\u201d) and gentler grooves (\u201cThe Astronaut\u201d), culminating in a rabid fusion that seethes with angst and catharsis (\u201cSaturnine Rage\u201d). Honestly, this track would make a resounding closer, and to use it at Psychohazard\u2019s midpoint illustrates the puissance of Cursebinder\u2019s surrounding material.<\/p>\n

\ufeffPsychohazard by Cursebinder<\/a><\/p>\n

Merging these sounds into a unified platter requires keen grace, and to then layer in the emotional depth that Cursebinder achieves is stunning. Cursebinder\u2019s promo materials describe Psychohazard\u2019s theme as a study in the collision of life\u2019s \u2018rat race\u2019 and humanity\u2019s inherent desire for love and acceptance. As the demands of my own life continue to creep, this idea strikes a chord that thrums with self-renewing relevance every day. \u201cDeath Season\u201d bustles with vitriol and vigor as Proficz\u2019s caustic vocals impel the track in a blinding tempest, while \u201cThe Astronaut\u201d and \u201cUnder the Skin\u201d float upon currents that relax and unwind one moment before boiling over into frenzied bursts the next. But even this is an oversimplification, as each track proves vibrant and diverse, refusing to condense into single emotions. Broadly, the back half of Psychohazard feels lighter than the front, putting more emphasis on dimensions that evoke post-metal\u2019s vagrant dreaminess without losing the threads of riffs or motifs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Considering Cursebinder\u2019s sprawling ambitions, Psychohazard sounds focused and urgent throughout its runtime. The post-addled haze never drifts too far, the scorching fury never burns too hot, and the tender flashes never linger long enough to caramelize into mawkishness. I credit this purposefulness to the efficient instrumentation that Cursebinder unfurls with nary a wasted flourish. Guitarist Hubert Fuda\u0142a and bassist \u0141ukasz Sojka wend together in climactic swells and releases that expertly pace the album\u2019s fifty-three minutes, and Marek Koszycki drums with nuanced timekeeping that flits between punk-powered d-beats (\u201cSaturnine Rage\u201d), insistent blast beats (\u201cMade to Be Sold\u201d), and delicate rhythms (\u201cThe Astronaut\u201d). Proficz\u2019s synth presence penetrates Psychohazard\u2019s compositions, and in totality Cursebinder rewards repeat listens as each musician\u2019s contributions impress individually while coalescing into an assembly greater than its sum.<\/p>\n

Although post-related tags usually thwart my interest, something about Cursebinder\u2019s spell called to me from beyond the ether. Psychohazard proves textures and layers can inculcate depth rather than acting as a standalone attraction, and going forward I hope to point to Cursebinder as my entry point into appreciating a wider expanse of metal. Cursebinder\u2019s faults are few, and even if the record is slightly front-loaded or a few songs linger a tad overlong, these nitpicks pale in light of Psychohazard\u2019s utter glory. If you seek an album that synthesizes the aura of post-metal with more conventional metal structures, I doubt you\u2019ll find a better album this year. Barring that, you should listen to Cursebinder anyway, because missing it could be a Psychohazard to your health.<\/p>\n

Rating: Great!
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Avantgarde Music<\/a>
Websites: Bandcamp<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a>
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2026<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n