BARREN EARTH – Curse of the Red River

By: Natalie Perez

Terrorizer Magazine claims it to be “Potent, aristocratic and utterly beautiful”. But is that really what Barren Earth were pursuing? “Curse of the Red River”, is indeed the band’s full length debut consisting of a memorizing 9-tracks embedded within, having nothing than what should be expected from a thunderous time of efforts just awaiting for the proper listener’s perspective to come along…..

Which draws us back to the band’s previous works, “Our Twilight” the EP that was sent out in the late era of 2009 and brought home the masterful composition that would lead-on its listeners to a new mislead beginning. Thus this so-called “Curse of the Red River”, does its duty to uphold the progressive metal bliss with its flawlessly executed epics. The title track for one has that eerie overdone introduction which soon leads right into the main texture of the song’s layout that displays its counterparts here and there, having guitar riffs guiding the music’s ethics while the vocal chords seamlessly float atop.

“The Ritual of Dawn”, is another guitar pleaser composing nothing but an arrangement of guitar soloing riffs that are precisely mix-matched for that exact purpose of persuading the listener’s abilities to keep all ears on the musical’s abilities. While “Cold Earth Chamber” demonstrates the band’s gentler effects as the intro portrays a softer introduction building itself up to the heavier attitude that is hidden within. The vocals later progress this overwhelming obsession with being deep and thunderous growling every split single possible, as the music goes in and out of control, keeping the music at an unbalanced movement.

Barren Earth’s skills have developed since the EP debut had fallen not so long ago and this time around truly demonstrates what this band is capable of pursuing when determination and dedication is in the mists.