REVIEW: Majula Wrestles with Fate in EP ‘Bearer of the Curse’
WRITTEN BY AMANDA COLLINS
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Majula, a metal band from Southern California with both hardcore and metalcore influences, released their debut EP Bearer of the Curse in early 2026. Signed to Dogfight Records, Majula is composed of members with histories in both hardcore punk and metal, each looking to distinguish themselves from “stereotypical breakdowns and moshpits.” Following a year of live performances, this EP marks the band’s introduction as not simply another metal group, but as a band interested in using the aggression of metal, paired with the overarching theme of curses and fate, to create something worthwhile not just for the audience but for the band members themselves. In the band’s own words, Majula and Bearer of the Curse are “an artistic freedom that feels as a gift to each and every one a part of this journey.”
At only 15 minutes long, Bearer of the Curse doesn’t waste time. Immediately, the tone of the EP is set with the words “You who link the fire/ You who bear the curse/ What lies ahead/ Only you can see.” The reference is recognizable to fans of the Dark Souls video game series, where character Emerald Herald acts as a guide to the Bearer of the Curse character. Majula draws from this fantastical and theatrical video game inspiration and, with epic storytelling existing as a beloved staple of the metal genre, thereby gifting their debut EP with a similarly fateful feeling. Listeners feel as though they are joining the journey themselves, stepping into the role of a potentially cursed/fallen hero.
Bearer of the Curse is crunchy in texture, the vocals executed well, yet given few restrictions. Vocalist Nolan Haberland showcases a wide range of harsh vocals, including, in the track “Blessed,” pig squeal screams. On electric guitar, Joshua Leonard shifts direction suddenly throughout the EP, keeping the listener on their toes, the tracks unpredictable and engaging. Raymond Gutierrez on drums and Dayton Gresch on bass give the EP a powerful foundation. Altogether, each comes together to create a pocket of energy on Bearer of the Curse that, live or on a streaming platform, is palpable.
Majula melds explosive instrumentals with short, yet tone-defining, lyrics. While the story of Bearer of the Curse is felt through the energized vocals, crafted instrumentals, and intentionally picked lyrics, there is an applicable personal effect that takes place through the listening of the EP. The metal genre is no stranger to the loud expression of uncomfortable emotions, and Majula also speaks to mental health through their EP, focusing on lyrics that “pertain to the struggle of mental health and self-improvement.” What Majula has crafted through their worldbuilding is another space to rage. Bottled feelings with nowhere to go eat at the soul but, if felt, can be alchemized into something new, a process which Bearer of the Curse seems to cover thematically.
Bearer of the Curse weaves together the tactile experience of the metal genre with thematically cerebral moments of fate, struggle, and curse. A soundtrack to the cursed hero’s arc, Majula’s debut EP brings a sense of purpose to the mosh pit, to rise above that which we are cursed with and to do something about it.