Swedish black metallers Serpents have decided to remain anonymous, with the trio in the ranks going by the names of S (drums), O (guitars, bass) and H (vocals) though I’m sure the more die-hard fans out there may know who they are. Whether mysterious or not this second EP is brilliant from start to finish with six incendiary songs that any black metal fan should definitely buy or at least hear; I did the former and ordered the vinyl after one listen.

As clichéd as a bell tolling may be for any release in metal, when combined with the haunting opening guitar work and architectural atmospherics the result sets the scene for the devastating assault that ensues. When that opening intro sequence to ‘Worship The Reprobate’ concludes an absolute tornado of riffing is fired out like a battery of missiles that will pin your sorry arse to the chair. It’s not quite war like in intent but the speed and purified terror that you bear witness to, feels like the world coming to an end.

These perpetrators of violence allow for no breathers as ‘End The Slavery Of Being’ continues the obsidian butchery to levels of ferocity you will have rarely heard this year. As the opening riff penetrates the mix with a dense oppressive rhythm section backing it up there is palpable sense of dread constructed as the song erupts with inflammable ruthlessness. The speed is inhuman but highly controlled as the empowering blasted explosion sounds like you’re standing in a wind tunnel having a blow torch the size of a plane aimed fully at you. Even the brief pauses in speed are still enraged as the song diverts brilliantly into a double bass blitzing that has a catchy traits.

The tempo reins in for ‘Bring The Apocalypse’ where a far more melodic riff arises with a cool beat added as the guitar work adopts a sinister malfeasance generated via the bristling macabre nature. You really can feel the tension escalating in this song, it has an intimidating nihilism to it right before the expected acceleration which is obliquely added for maximum damage. Standing in that blow torch wind tunnel readies you for ‘Shattered Paradise’ as the blurring blasted maelstrom is maniacally frenzied, all in a good way of course, as the song unfurls a cracking riff segue which sees the song slow down a tad. It is that incessant speed that breeds unbridled hostility into this album as the song reasserts itself with that unfailing destructive speed half way in.

A short serene piece, ‘Interlude In B Minor’ effectively isolates the last song, ‘Requiem’, which is very different to four preceding sonic annihilations. Taking a more funereal approach (as suggested by the title) the song is much slower and listens like an extended outro to some degree, but as the song gathers it wields a superb guitar hook that infests your head. As the drum work pushes through, that hook returns in grandiose fashion expanding the atmosphere of the song enabling a soulless desolation to be felt as it fades into smooth oblivion.

There will be few releases that truly encapsulate the essence of black metal as this EP, its unfettered brutality is tangibly terrifying and wholly incapacitating.

(9.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://serpents1.bandcamp.com/releases