ALBUM REVIEW: ERRA - CURE - PitPass.com.au

Released 5 April 2024

UNFD

Having just been to our shores within the last two months, progressive metalcore outfit ERRA have hit the ground on making the year their biggest yet. As the band prepare to embark on their first headline tour in North America in two years, they’re also unveiling their brand new album, CURE this week. Can you say, hardest working band in the scene? On this record, they seek to push their music even further.

Opening track ‘Cure‘ blazes right in, familiarisng ourselves with the very sound that the band have established and hit the ground running on 2018’s NEON. While they seemingly perfected this back in 2021’s self-titled work, ‘Cure‘ ultimately sets our ears for even more hefty mayhem and ‘Rumor of Light’ follows this up with a thumping intro on the drums. Surging through a very guitar driven melody, vocalist/guitarist Jesse Cash delivers emotion through vocals that soar.

The hook on ‘Idle Wild‘ is abundant and full-on. Featuring a flurry of synth from first note, the boys defiantly transition into riff-heavy territory and we see ERRA paint a picture of their confident selves in full bloom before seamlessly moving into ‘Blue Reverie‘. The energy is pulled back just slightly with Jesse leading the vocals, before lead vocalist JT Cavey joins in mid-chorus and it is honestly a beautiful motion of steady, crushing waves. The track builds into a towering breakdown that sounds very much ERRA but ends just a little too soon.

A highlight on CURE comes midway with ‘Slow Sour Bleed‘. A synthesized introduction builds into a deeply progressive metalcore wave and we’re hit with quite the groovy melody. It’s also almost got an edgy nu-metalcore vibe about it. The breakdown is vastly different and by this notion I’m referring to that tantalising blend of electronic tones before succombing us with loudly suffocating guitars. This is a wildy fun version of ERRA that needs to be heard.

‘Glimpse‘ leads in with meticulous guitars and drums before JT races in with such endearment. Also featuring a dirty breakdown, this is definitely the heaviest track on CURE. When JT screams “Paradox” it struck a chord with me and sent shivers down my spine. A rocky soundscape enters next with ‘Past Life Persona‘ and Jesse holds the vocal reigns for a moment. Unexpected and out of the blue, “catchy” is not what I expect when it comes to this band. However, this is the beauty that is uncovered throughout this record. ERRA is a band that knows how to keep you on edge.

‘Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven‘ takes us back to familiar ground, leading in with that thumping metal bass, accommpanied by distorted sounds and background glitches. This feels a little more contemporary metalcore, but very stylistically ERRA before ‘End to Excess‘ frantically kicks into momentum with some extra chug throughout the song.

The quick key changes here keep your ears guessing, but the band have kept it easy with ‘Pale Iris‘. Blending meticulous riffs with a steady lull of groovy melodies, this is the circle pit rager of CURE that metalcore enthusiasts have been anticipating. High-voltage metal continues onto ‘Waves‘ which only sees the progression go further as Jesse’s vocals shimmer and reverberates inbetween the mesh of rugged guitars.

ERRA have executed this record remarkably. CURE embodies a technical maturity that few and far bands in metalcore tread down. They’ve kept the sound they’ve nurtured over the past six years while bringing about a record that could easily be enjoyed by anyone and everyone that loves a good yet highly technical riff.

Rating: 9/10

Review by Tamara May