A soundtrack for uncomfortable material…

For a decade now, the Belgian band Carnation hasn’t held back from exploring creatively with their sound. Their newest release Cursed Mortality blends heavy guitar riffs with clean vocals that is a blast from the past to the nostalgic old school death metal sound. Though their Iron Maiden-esque vibe is present in this album, the band takes a more personal, deeper approach in their lyrics. Nevertheless, Carnation doesn’t stray away from their roots.

With songs like “Maruta,” the record depicts dark and disturbing scenarios in pursuit of sadistic goals. It gives the album title a whole other meaning as it demonstrates how vulnerable mortal beings are and how they are exposed to suffering for it. Whether or not this particular track is a commentary on the actual brutality the name alludes to or a metaphor for something else is unknown. Although, vocalist Simon Duson has admitted before that their lyrics are inspired by events and fictional stories, so one mustn’t put it past them. This is evident with “Replicant,” a track inspired by the sci-fi film Blade Runner. This piece drips with sorrow as Duson anguishes about the uncertainty of his purpose. Singing from the perspective of Roy Batty,  he embodies a combat model replicant and gives a voice to his tale about his short-lived, purposeless life that is “programmed to expire.” According to News Noise Magazine, Duson says: “What would you do if you came to realize that you were programmed to live for only four years? Would you accept the outcome, or try to figure out a way to extend your lifespan? Replicant is a song about dealing with the finiteness of our existence.” As one of the few relatable tracks on this record, pondering on the meaning or existence of life, “Replicant” challenges the fans with existential questions.

The album takes an even darker turn with the following track “Dutroux,” which is no doubt a nod to Belgian serial killer Marc Dutroux. A sense of dread and anxiety lingers with this, denying the audience a moment of rest compared to the previous tracks; it’s like one never-ending climax. The words “House of Horrors” is prominent in the chorus, referencing the horrific real-life events. It’s clear the type of content Carnation wants to share with their fans but only a specific target audience can stomach it: fanatics of the horror genre. 

Compared to some artists, Carnation leaves little to no interpretation in their lyrics and instead offers a straight-forward, unhinged imitation of uncomfortable material. This is why when the heart-felt guitar solos come in, it’s a breath of fresh air out of the murky waters of heavy stuff. With the tuning set in Drop A, there is a familiarity of ‘80s metal nostalgia mixed with Carnation’s own modern twist. The record comes full circle with the last track– the longest of all with a run time of seven minutes– “Cursed Mortality.” It bids its farewell with a message about the grim aspects of life as well as mortality and how humans are cursed with it. Duson shows off his vocal range as he starts off with melancholic singing that transcends back to menacing growls straight from the diaphragm, as the album closes like a movie fading to black, its heaviness still lingers even after it’s finished. Cursed Mortality is the soundtrack to all things uncomfortable.