Released 20 years ago
A Haunting Curse
Goatwhore · 2006
39 min · 11 tracks · black metal
A relentless barrage of ferocious riffs and guttural growls creates an atmosphere of chaos and despair.
Top tracks — play these first
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Wear These Scars of Testimony — The album opener sets the tone with its aggressive riffing and haunting melodies, showcasing the band's signature blend of intensity and atmosphere.
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Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult — This track exemplifies Goatwhore's lyrical depth, weaving themes of darkness and chaos into a relentless musical assault that captures listeners' attention.
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I Avenge Myself — Closing the album, this track combines pummeling rhythms with an introspective atmosphere, leaving a lasting impression of both revenge and despair.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but may not have broad appeal beyond its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a relentless pace, maintaining aggressive tempos throughout the first half.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo shifts, alternating between blast beats and slower, crushing riffs, creating a sense of unpredictability.
- The vocals are predominantly guttural growls, with occasional higher-pitched screams layered over the instrumentals, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- relentless intensity throughout experience
- dark atmosphere for deep immersion
- short tracks for quick bursts
- cathartic release from aggression
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light, uplifting sounds
- seek melodic, calm moments
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time Goatwhore released A Haunting Curse in 2006, they were establishing themselves firmly within the black metal scene. This album followed their critically acclaimed 2003 release, Funeral Dirge for the Rotting Sun, and marked a period of increased recognition as they began to tour extensively and build a dedicated fanbase.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Behemoth· Nile· Dimmu Borgir
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Wear These Scars of Testimony 3:55
- 2 Bloodletting Upon the Cloven Hoof 3:28
- 3 Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult 3:29
- 4 My Eyes Are the Spears of Chaos 2:37
- 5 In the Narrow Confines of Defilement 4:52
- 6 Forever Consumed Oblivion 3:45
- 7 A Haunting Curse... 4:25
- 8 Silence Marked by the Breaking of Bone 4:04
- 9 Diabolical Submergence of Rebirth 3:21
- 10 ... Of Ashen Slumber 0:56
- 11 I Avenge Myself 4:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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