Swedish Black Metal trio SERPENTS return with a second EP. Out now via War Anthem Records.
Church bells chime and ambient synths set the release off with a funereal atmosphere as clean guitar work emanates through the foggy soundscapes. Crushing drums begin a battery alongside very 90s riffing melodies with a punchy rhythm to back up a slew of visceral vocals that are bellowed across the mix. This is some monstrously brutal Black Metal that harkens to fellow Swedes such as Marduk, Valkyrja and the like with a vicious and fiery take on the genre that charges artillery forth with maximum haste and violence. As is the case with this style of Black Metal, the originality is somewhat lacking, however the passion and drive is clearly not. Cascading melancholy gives a bit more dynamic and contrast to the onslaught while we remain firmly in the harder realm of extremity. A promising beginning to the EP indeed.
Malicious, unforgiving and abrasive are the main descriptions I can give to this sonic bombardment of guitars, bass, drums and vocals which work in unison to launch shellfire with maximum aggression in a hellish orgy of ferocity. With development and a bit more individuality, this band has a great potential to achieve a much more stoic place in the Swedish scene as the fire, musical ability and drive is all here. Perhaps this will be unveiled when the bands next EP or a full length appears as this EP felt like a marvellous effort that just fell a bit short on the originality front. These critiques are only so clear as it is obvious to me that Serpents are a strong band with huge potential that definitely needs to be reached with some fine-tuning. In the latter half of the EP this is more evident as the band seem to really fire on all cylinders. Clearly a conquering from them is imminent if they follow this pathway.
A strong effort that wields and honours the Swedish Black Metal flame with mighty aggression and tight musicianship. Future development will assuredly see this band grow into a juggernaut of destruction if they keep progressing at this rate. Until then, this is certainly a worthwhile EP of classic Swedish Black Metal. -7.5/10
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