Biography
Not to be confused with the melodic New York City goth rock group Curse, whose sound drew from the Doors, the Canadian hardcore outfit Cursed operates under the leadership of vocalist and lyricist Chris Colohan. Already a familiar figure in the domestic hardcore community through prior stints in Left for Dead, the Swarm, and Ruination, Colohan guides a unit whose loud, fast, abrasive attack delivers a pronounced metallic impact without aligning strictly with metalcore acts such as Hatebreed or Every Time I Die. Rooted in pre-metalcore hardcore, the band draws additional inspiration from death metal, alternative metal, and thrash, citing Entombed, Neurosis, and Slayer among its reference points. Although Cursed continues certain threads from Colohan’s earlier projects, it deliberately avoids replicating them outright.
The group assembled in late 2001 when Colohan linked up with guitarist Christian McMaster, also of Haymaker, bassist Radwan Moumneh, formerly of the Black Hand and Ire, and drummer Mike Maxymuik, whose résumé includes Sinclaire, the Meligrove Band, and Left for Dead. At inception the members were dispersed between Montreal in Quebec and Toronto plus Hamilton in Ontario, yet they managed to perform across multiple cities and generate considerable notice throughout the Canadian hardcore circuit in 2002. Colohan’s participation as frontman amplified that visibility in both English- and French-speaking markets. During a temporary absence by Moumneh, Tom Piraino, previously of Grayline, handled bass duties; when Moumneh rejoined in 2003 he switched to second guitar rather than resuming his original role. In other hardcore ensembles Moumneh has served as lead vocalist, but within Cursed he defers that position to Colohan. The addition of a second guitarist was intended to heighten the overall heaviness and further accentuate the band’s metallic character.
Deathwish Records issued Cursed’s debut album, One, in 2003. The following year the band tracked its second full-length, Two. By the time Goodfellow Records, the small Hamilton-based independent label, put out Two in early 2005, Piraino had departed and Dan Dunham of Shallow North Dakota had assumed the bass chair.
The group assembled in late 2001 when Colohan linked up with guitarist Christian McMaster, also of Haymaker, bassist Radwan Moumneh, formerly of the Black Hand and Ire, and drummer Mike Maxymuik, whose résumé includes Sinclaire, the Meligrove Band, and Left for Dead. At inception the members were dispersed between Montreal in Quebec and Toronto plus Hamilton in Ontario, yet they managed to perform across multiple cities and generate considerable notice throughout the Canadian hardcore circuit in 2002. Colohan’s participation as frontman amplified that visibility in both English- and French-speaking markets. During a temporary absence by Moumneh, Tom Piraino, previously of Grayline, handled bass duties; when Moumneh rejoined in 2003 he switched to second guitar rather than resuming his original role. In other hardcore ensembles Moumneh has served as lead vocalist, but within Cursed he defers that position to Colohan. The addition of a second guitarist was intended to heighten the overall heaviness and further accentuate the band’s metallic character.
Deathwish Records issued Cursed’s debut album, One, in 2003. The following year the band tracked its second full-length, Two. By the time Goodfellow Records, the small Hamilton-based independent label, put out Two in early 2005, Piraino had departed and Dan Dunham of Shallow North Dakota had assumed the bass chair.
Albums
Singles
