With their debut EP A Whispered Curse, Plague Pit waste no time in establishing themselves as a band who don’t just play extreme music — they inhabit it. Across four tracks, they’ve carved out a sound that can only be described as Blackened Extreme Metal, equal parts feral aggression and suffocating, seething hate. It hits as suddenly and violently as a lightning storm, but it also lingers, dragging you down into its depths like an anchor around your neck, where every riff feels like a slow, deliberate act of punishment.
The EP’s greatest strength is how it balances immediacy with atmosphere. On one hand, the music can be blisteringly fast, a whirlwind of guitars and thunderous beats that leave no room to breathe. On the other, there are moments where the pace slackens, not to give you respite, but to let the full force of the band’s weight settle in. These slower passages are crushing, oppressive, and unflinchingly heavy — riffs that grind forward like the gears of some infernal machine, unstoppable and merciless. It’s a dynamic that keeps the record constantly shifting, never predictable, yet always utterly devastating.
Vocally, the performance is raw and uncompromising, sitting somewhere between tortured shrieks and guttural roars. They cut through the dense instrumentation with a sense of pure spite, as though every syllable has been sharpened into a weapon. Lyrically, the record delves into themes that feel both personal and apocalyptic and the delivery ensures that even if you don’t catch every word, you still feel their meaning in your guts.
What makes A Whispered Curse stand out in a crowded underground is the sheer physicality of its sound. There’s no sense of distance or detachment here; instead, the production places you right in the middle of the storm. The guitars are layered and thick, with enough clarity to make out the intricacies of the riffs while still keeping that smothering density. The drums are relentless, dictating the pace like a warrior leading an.army to battle, while the bass underpins everything with a dark, rumbling presence that you feel as much as hear.
At four tracks long, A Whispered Curse doesn’t overstay its welcome. Each piece feels purposeful, part of a greater whole, and the brevity works in the band’s favour — it leaves you wanting more, but also ensures that what’s here hits with maximum impact. This isn’t music designed for background listening; it’s something you sit with, absorb, and let consume you.
For a debut, this is an incredibly assured statement of intent. Plague Pit have arrived fully formed, with a sound that feels both immediate and enduring. If this is just the beginning, then the potential for what comes next is staggering. A Whispered Curse is more than just an introduction — it’s a declaration, one that makes it impossible to ignore the name Plague Pit.
A Whispered Curse is available October 3rd via Road To Masochist.
CHOICE CUT: The Weeping God
The Black Metal Archives Verdict: A debut that feels like a hammer blow, uncompromising and unforgettable.
