EP REVIEW: The Brimstone Clergy – Serpents

IN a country already renowned for its incredibly pedigree of world class extreme metal bands, the mysterious Swedish trio SERPENTS are perhaps one of the most impressive acts to come out of the countries underground in the last five years. Blending the slick melodicism typical of many of the countries black and death metal acts with an ardent and aggressive intensity, their music sounds very much like a much more unhinged and belligerent take on the likes of DISSECTION or NAGLFAR, with the band’s debut self-titled EP laying down some solid groundwork for the band to build upon.

Now, with a far sharper production and noticeably catchier musicianship, the band return with The Brimstone Clergy, a record that trims what little fat there was within their sound on their debut, resulting in a record that should turn plenty of heads within the black metal scene at large.

Worship the Reprobate, with it’s sombre, atmospheric opener, quickly descending into an exceptionally tight and aggressive slab of Thrash inflected Melodic Black Metal. The razor sharp lead guitars, caustic vocals and frenetic drumming all contribute to this song’s appeal, making for a really focused and vicious start to the record that sets the tone for the next five songs really well.

End the Slavery of Being has some great, huge rhythms and monstrous riffs and vocals that both carry forward the speed and intensity of the previous track, providing a full throttle aural assault with a slightly epic tinge that gives everything a fierce yet cavernous sound. Bring the Apocalypse is a much slower, darker affair, with bleak chords from the guitar establishing the mood right out of the gate. The more subdued guitar licks and primal, thunderous drums give way to the feral, chaotic second half that jumps between demented intensity and plodding, grating motifs that all give this song an eclectic feel.

Shattered Paradise drags the music back towards much more cacophonous and visceral fare, with acidic, acerbic vocals and savage guitar work establishing this as easily the most rabid number on the whole record. There’s a few moments that allow some of the more grandiose, monolithic aspects that characterised the previous two songs to return to the fore, but the bulk of this song is a blisteringly fast and bellicose wall of noise punctuated by catchy melodies. Interlude in B Minor is a brief, but brilliant, acoustic passage that breaks the record up quite well, and serves as a fantastic prelude to the final offering on here, Requiem. This final track is another mid-tempo affair, with crisp, polished leads contrasting with the massive rhythms, venomous vocal deliveries and restrained drumming, really allowing the excellent guitars to take centre stage, cementing this track as not only a great closer, but also one of the more enduring and powerful tracks on the whole E.P.

The Brimstone Clergy shows a marked leap forward for SERPENTS especially with regards to the production and musicianship. Where their self-titled debut had a much coarser sound and slightly more reserved guitars, this record has a far sharper and more polished approach, with the music in particular having plenty of imaginative riffs and far more animated vocals, which gives everything a tighter and more ferocious feel from start to finish. With The Brimstone Clergy, SERPENTS have all but perfected their sound and style, and with a slightly more diverse sound, whatever they produce next could very well cement the band at the forefront of the international black metal underground.

Rating: 8/10

The Brimstone Clergy is out now via War Anthem Records.