This morning I listened to the single Cursed by Blood by black/speed metal band Diabolical Evil. Before delving into the heart of the matter, I think it's important to introduce this singular project. Hailing from Brazil, Diabolical Evil is a one-man band founded in 2020. The following year, it unveiled its very debut single Cursed by Blood, quickly followed by a first EP entitled Black Magic Force. Today, we're going to take a look at the reissue of this single, reissued in 2022 by UK label Vicious Witch Records.
This reissue comes in a brand new 7" vinyl format from Vicious Witch Records. This single contains a re-recorded version of Cursed by Blood, accompanied by a second previously unreleased track entitled Valley of the Damned. Both tracks plunge us for 7 minutes and 34 seconds into a dark, occult musical universe.
But what do we have here? Extreme speed metal, with guitars riffing at a frenetic pace, backed by frenetic drums. The screaming vocals oscillate between an overt black metal influence and an old-school thrash energy that's less aggressive but just as hard-hitting. Passages with more typically black metal sounds emerge as the listening progresses, as at the 3:17 mark in Cursed by Blood, where the atmosphere becomes even darker.
The second track, Valley of the Damned, features a rawer mix and production. The vocals are more imposing, even more visceral. It's a mix of extreme/speed metal with heavy metal influences, with a few black metal passages scattered throughout. The final guitar solo brings a fine conclusion to this track.