Has Darkskull/unhallow changed?

[Rickshaw]

I remember darkskull (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/darkskull) being a top notch fixture for a necromancer. Now that I'm back to the ol necromancer builds again, I thought I'd refresh my memory only to find that you're now paying out the butt for a permanent third level spell, some channel energy resistance, and a choice of permanent cantrips or other stuff that doesn't really help a necromancer. I remember Unhallow having some sort of cursed earth effect that automatically raised undead and killed crops and generally wrecked the place! Am I remembering this wrong or did something change!?

Edit: found the effect (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/cursed-earth) I was thinking of. Still confused because I remember it being usable by darkskull...