Crowbar frontman Kirk Windstein has been quoted in interviews, regarding the band’s 11th album, as having said he revisited the band’s earlier work in order to gain inspiration for this record. For long term fans of the band, this will be no indication of any sharp change in direction for Crowbar’s sound – each release has been consistent in dynamic and it seems as though the NOLA sludge heavyweights’ blueprint is set in stone. With a Crowbar release you know exactly what you’re getting and ‘The Serpent Only Lies’ is certainly no exception.
45 minutes of pure misery – nope, nothing new to see here. Distended chords make up the chug-a-thon of steady and devastatingly heavy riffs that lay the backdrop for Windstein’s anguished and gravel-toned vocal delivery. Every track is as consistent as it is robust – 26 years in the game has helped the band to perfect their craft. The slower, doomier portions induce the right amount of dread, while the more aggressive, pacier passages make a devastating impact. If there’s one thing that Crowbar deliver every time it’s a masterclass in how sludge metal should sound when done properly.
This is yet another hefty addition to the Crowbar discography and, like clockwork, Windstein and co. have delivered yet again. This is a no holds barred, yet completely predictable release – no experimentation, no frills, however, part of what makes this band so great is their dependability to provide soul crushingly miserable releases time after time and make it look effortless. No, you’re not necessarily missing anything if you let this record pass you by, however, if you’re a fan of Crowbar is this a meteoroid of heaviness that you can really afford to let pass you by?
(7/10 Angela Davey)
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