For all of you not familiar with this album, this is Mortification's first full length cd after the termination of the band Lightforce. Originally recorded on Nuclear Blast records in 1990, this cd hasn't seen much light because Mortification signed with Intense Records soon after. For some reason, Intense never saw a reason to rerelease this early thrash album.
Everyone who follows Mortification knows how many style changes they have been through in the last ten years. From thrash, to death, to grindcore, to hxc death and so on. The particular style of Break the Curse is consistent with late eighties metal which continued from Steve Rowe's 80's band Lightforce. This album has a different guitarist than self-titled and scrolls, and that particular crunchiness that Michael Carlisle brings is sorely missed on this record. But don't get me wrong, Blood Sacrifice is a sweet thrash tune, but the vocals on this album are kind of odd. Where on self and scrolls, Steve's voice is very death, this album has him sounding very raspy before he learned how to growl. This is a very good album, but with self-titled and scrolls being so good after it, it is hard to rate an album that is so different sounding. Anyone who likes thrash or older Mortification should get this, but you'll probably have to pay $45 for a used copy like I did. Maybe someone will get smart and reissue this sometime.
6/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by NecRoSarXMany astute fans of Mortification know that Break the Curse began life as a Light Force demo, right before sole remaining member Steve Rowe changed the name to Mortification. Some of the songs on Break the Curse found their way re-recorded onto future Mortification albums, like the cuts "Brutal Warfare", "Break The Curse", "Journey Of Reconciliation", "The Majestic Infiltration Of Order" and…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerMost people are only familiar with two songs 'New Beginnings' and 'Blood Sacrifice' which were both featured on the 1995 album Best of Five Years. Bottom line is if you liked those two songs this will be a worthwhile purchase for you. However if you find that you tend to skip those tracks to get to the amazing 'The Destroyer Beholds' which comes next on Best of Five Years then you will probably…HM Magazine #87Reviewed by Doug Van PeltYes, this is the album that got this Christian grindcore pioneer rolling, but this version is completely remastered and re-packaged. Drummer Jayson Sherlock and Guitarist Cameron Hall can be distinctively heard here. Steve's vocals are more of the thrash shout delivery than the grinding growl he developed shortly thereafter. Jayson's skills at high speed and hard hitting are evident in tunes like…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe 1990 demo cassette by Mortification that led to their deal with Intense Records is now on CD. It's cool to hear this historically interesting album. It features the death metal songs that marked the start of Mortification just after they had abandoned the bandname Lightforce. Lightforce came out in the mid eighties with their 1987 release of Mystical Thieves which was heavy metal. Half of…Heaven's Metal #48Reviewed by Doug Van PeltHere is a blast from Mortification's past, showing the embryonic stage of Steve Rowe's growling vocals. Somewhat extreme in its time, now the vocals sound tame. The guitar, done by original six-stringer Cameron Hall, goes off on some rippin' solos; but, like Michael Carlisle, mostly sticks to speedy rhythms. The drums sound demo quality in many ways, yet this album isn't a joke. Fans of thrash…Similar sounding releases
1998DeuteronomiumStreet Corner Queen
2001xDisciplexDoxology
1990TourniquetStop the Bleeding
19993rd Day RisingSpiral
2004Royal AnguishThe Chronicles of Autumn Sorrow
2005IlluminandiThe Beginning...More from Mortification
1994Blood World
1991Mortification
1993Live Planetarium
1996The Best Of... Five Years
1995Primitive Rhythm Machine
200010 Years Live Not Dead
