Thy Shining Curse – Theurgia

A trio originating from Greece, but according to the promo formed as a band in Pittsburgh, U.S.A., Thy Shining Curse embarks on a symphonic death metal tour. So it’s not surprising that I initially think of the Italians Fleshgod Apocalypse, because that group has certainly left a significant mark on the genre. Thy Shining Curse‘s debut album Theurgia is complex, narrative and at times even lingering in nature. However, don’t be fooled, as there is a massive amount of pounding on this record.

This album is imbued with a multitude of symphonic influences, programming, and orchestration in the broadest sense of the word. However, it’s put together in such a way that it doesn’t disturb or irritate at times. And I find that quite impressive in itself. To enjoy this album, you must love all these influences. Classical chants, atmospheric strings, trumpets and a lot of keyboard and piano trickery come to pass. During a track like Acephale we really hear how well they all fit together. The progressive touch is inevitable for this band, while the dark grunts, in turn, are firmly based in death metal. Personally, I really enjoy this, although I categorize this piece of work more as a listening album than a raging album, if you understand what I mean. This is because everything is so meticulously detailed. And as a listener, I just want to hear, grasp, and absorb it all. After 36 minutes, I’ve been put through the proverbial wringer.

The alvbum demands quite a bit from the average listener, not only in terms of elasticity but also in terms of concentration. Is it exhausting? No, not really, but it covers so many bases simultaneously that you have to be alert all the time. As I’ve mentioned, simple head banging is often not an option, thoughtful head nodding is. Enjoy the flow and technique and everything that comes your way. Theurgia is a wild journey with many accents and exotic manifestations. Perhaps the aforementioned Italian colleagues are most audible during Heptacletus. But it’s unfair to dismiss the band as a clone, because there’s really more than enough of their own sound in this symphonic music box of death. Boys and girls, once again an impressive debut at the beginning of 2024, promising indeed! The closing Melmoth and the diverse Aesahaettr I’m sharing here for your own ears.