Cursed Bloodlines is an American Extreme Metal band, established in 2015, the group released their debut album in 2017, two years after their formation. Following the release of an EP in 2023 and several singles, Cursed Bloodlines launched their second independent full-length album, titled “Virulent,” on January 4, 2025, and promoted through The Metallist PR.
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Cursed Bloodlines, Virulent Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Virulent
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Cursed Bloodlines and their album, Virulent
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Characterized by twin guitar work of razor-sharp riffs and intricate solos that contribute to the music’s aggressive and dark atmosphere. The bass provides a solid and heavy foundation, complementing the guitar and adding depth to the overall sound. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves a marriage of raw, unclean singing, that cuts through dark and intense lyrics with a fierce and commanding presence. The Third Sin—The Percussions: The drumming is relentless and powerful, driving the intensity of the music with fast-paced rhythms and complex patterns.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion:
Plunges the listener into a Nightmare Grotesque of grim and decaying world of extreme music and lyrics.
The moment the listener hits the play button, they are immediately met with the fierce and chaotic sounds of A Nightmare Grotesque, which unleashes a powerful instrumental and vocal onslaught.
Continuing this intense journey, the second track, Strange Matter, along with the following nine pieces, plunges the listener into a grimy, decayed world of extreme metal. It is crafted for those who dare to venture beyond the ordinary and are ready for a wild ride.
Cursed Bloodlines delivers a captivating experience with their album Virulent, a fifty-minute voyage into the depths of eleven relentless hymns that fuse an array of musical elements. Prepare to be immersed in a rich tapestry of classic thrash metal, European folk metal, both modern and old-school death metal, groove metal, and black metal. The result is a sound that is not only intense and raw but also exudes a powerful, visceral energy that resonates deeply within.
At the same time, Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent showcase an unrelenting force and chaotic, and carnivorous atmosphere, pulling listeners into the filthy, decayed realm of instruments that are well-composed and arranged—both music and lyrics. All of this is delivered by this fruit of art, devilmanship. Within this devilmanship, Cursed Bloodlines presents a seductive blend of artistry and devilmanship, anchored by Tim Morris on bass, who crafts a robust and unwavering foundation. Brian Oakes, and Ken McBride twin guitar devilmanship, unleashes a torrent of aggressive riffs and entrancing rhythms that slice through the soundscape with ferocious grooves. Jeremy Conklin drum work are relentless and powerful, driving the intensity of the music with fast-paced rhythms and complex patterns. Meanwhile, Malcolm Driggs delivers vocals that are nothing short of visceral, his raw and brutal screams cut through the dark and intense lyrics with a fierce and commanding presence.
The sound of the band is a raw and unfiltered experience, meticulously produced to achieve a perfect balance between modernity and a gritty, decaying essence. Each note resonates with an authenticity that refuses to be dulled by contemporary production techniques. Instead, the recording captures a sense of primal energy, ensuring that the music remains true to its roots while still embracing a polished finish. This unique approach to production allows Cursèd Bloodlines to maintain a sense of authenticity, with every element of their sound reflecting a commitment to rawness and intensity.
This results in a powerful auditory journey that feels both fresh and timeless, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in a musical art, where creativity and darkness intertwine seamlessly. Cursed Bloodlines is ability to blend these contrasting elements creates a powerful and unforgettable listening experience, dedicated to producing engaging and cutting-edge music while staying true to their roots and ideals.
As the album comes to a close, and the listener’s ending nightmare and the closing piece, The Rats in the Walls. Which is based on the short story by American author H. P. Lovecraft. Written in August–September 1923, it was first published in Weird Tales, March 1924. We would like to thank The Metallist PR for allowing us to review Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent.
The Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins of Cursed Bloodlines and their album, Virulent
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia:
Virulent represent a tantalizingly dark and forbidden fruit of art release, creating a sound that is visceral and unrelenting. A brutal assault on the senses that lures those who dare to delve into its dark depths of the unknown. If you share my passion for this kind of raw and extreme music, then Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent is a fruit of art, that you simply cannot overlook. Where the music is a twisted delight, crafted for those who thrive on intensity and the unconventional sounds. Again, Cursèd Bloodlines‘s music is not for the timid, but for those who crave the thrill of the chaotic and the macabre…
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The entire artwork, has a somewhat old-school charm that adds to the band’s grimy, decayed sound.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
There is nothing to dislike in the musical offerings of Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent. Thus, we conclude our review of Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your time in reading this article, and I encourage you to explore the work of The Metallist PR and the band Cursed Bloodlines and their album Virulent.
Members
Malcolm Driggs IV: Vocals
Brian Oakes: Guitar
Ken McBride: Guitar
Tim “The Moth” Morris II: Bass
Jeremy Conklin: Drums
Track-Listing
01. A Nightmare Grotesque
02. Strange Matter
03. Suffer in Silence
04. Bodies in the Cellar
05. Virulent
06. Partitioned Perfection
07. Blood, Bath, and Beyond
08. Mephitic Rebirth
09. Eight Hours to Live
10. A Cold Cosmic Embrace
11. The Rats in the Walls
