Serpentine Path – Serpentine Path

Releasedate: 2012; Label: Relapse Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

Serpentine Path is an USA based formation that makes Death/Doom. The members have been working together in previous bands and with some additions they created the line up for this project. A self-titled EP was already released but now they extended it to (an also self titled) full length release which is out now.

Must be said with the line up in mind you could have expected this album to sound thick and heavy but when hearing it, you yet are surprised on how the guys have created this raw mood. Here and there the band brings in that psychedelic touch which makes it hypnotizing and captivating. Interesting touch! The touch of guitarist Tim Bagshaw (Electric Wizard) comes forward quite well here. The vocals are sometimes a bit of a breaker in it tough, coming in at the moments you not really need it yet, the instrumental trip leads through the tension fields and these vocals are brutally interrupting it. Then a few seconds later you get more use to it again, but the focus tends to go more towards vocals by then which gives you a different side of the music. So quite surprising, the band has plenty going on and with this release you won’t get bored easily.

Line up:
Jay Newman – Bass
Darren Verni – Drums
Tim Bagshaw – Guitars
Ryan Lipynsky – Vocals
Stephen Flam – Guitars

Tracklist: 1. Arrows 2. Crotalus Horridus Horridus 3. Bats Amongst Heathens 4. Beyond the Dawn of Time 5. Obsoletion 6. Aphelion 7. Compendium of Suffering 8. Only a Monolith Remains

Links:
Serpentine Path Official