Cursed in Chicago

About Cursed

Cursed are a Canadian extreme metal band from Toronto that emerged in the early 2000s, blending black metal's raw aesthetics with death metal heaviness and grindcore's chaotic energy. The group has maintained a deliberately low profile despite cultivating a devoted following in underground circles. Their sound is intentionally abrasive and hostile, with lyrics that tend toward social criticism and nihilistic themes. Rather than chasing visibility, Cursed have built their reputation through consistent output and a refusal to compromise their approach. They've released several full-lengths that showcase their evolution from purely lo-fi beginnings into a more defined sonic identity, though they've never sacrificed heaviness or rawness. The band represents a strain of extreme metal that prioritizes substance and uncompromising artistic vision over accessibility.

Cursed shows are dense, suffocating affairs where the crowd tends toward quiet intensity rather than crowd interaction. People stand mostly still, locked in. The band doesn't engage between songs. Just relentless, punishing sets that feel more like endurance than entertainment.

Known for Confound Their Politics, Sadistical, I Abhor, Sanity Assassin, Taste the Ashes

Cursed + Chicago

Cursed last touched down in Chicago at Fireside Bowl in September 2003, catching the band in their prime noise-rock era. The venue's intimate setup was perfect for their confrontational sound—all feedback and controlled chaos, the kind of set where you felt the distortion in your chest. They tore through material with the kind of single-minded intensity that made them essential to anyone paying attention to heavy experimental music at the time. It's been two decades since they were last here, which means the city's gotten a whole lot quieter without them.

Cursed in Chicago News

• Static Sorcery: A Review of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at Broadway In Chicago Newcity Stage · Oct 1, 2024
• Review: ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is magnificently acted and created anew for Chicago Chicago Tribune · Sep 27, 2024
• Photos: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Launches National Tour In Chicago BroadwayWorld.com · Sep 10, 2024
• ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' arrives in Chicago this week NBC 5 Chicago · Sep 9, 2024
• ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ to debut national tour in Chicago Broadway News · Dec 11, 2023

Live Music in Chicago

Chicago's always had a soft spot for noise and experimentation—the city that gave us Touch and Go Records and bands willing to sand down the edges of rock music. Cursed fit neatly into that lineage, their abrasive approach resonating with a local audience that understood that heavy didn't always mean metal. The Midwest has never been afraid of music that challenges more than it comforts.

Chicago road trip to see Cursed?

Stay in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park depending on your vibe—both neighborhoods have real character and plenty of late-night options. Book dinner at Alinea if you're feeling ambitious, or hit RPM Italian for something excellent and less impossible to get into. Spend an afternoon at the Art Institute, then walk along the Lakefront. The city's got enough to fill a weekend without feeling like you're checking boxes. Catch the show, eat well, and remember why you liked this band in the first place.