SERPENTIA „Dark Fields of Pain”

Music: Extreme Metal
Website: http://www.serpentia.best.net.pl
Duration: 41.38 minutes (9 songs)
Cool songs: Charity of Death, Waiting for Wings, Consciousness Of The Beyond

The long anticipated follow-up to their 2000 debut MCD “…and the Angels descended to Earth” from this renowned Polish extreme metal act who derive their moniker the ancient symbol of a serpent, eating its own tail. “Serpentia” are one of the few bands I have heard successfully combine the ferocity of black and deathmetal with the ambience of European Goth and even a twist of folk without losing the raw intensity along the way . My personal favorite musically is “Waiting for wings” whose melodic refrain and eerie clean vocals are dedicated it to the late Chuck. Schuldiner (according to bassist Ivy). The potent, politically charged lyrics “Dark Fields Of Pain,”. Chronicling the everyday struggles of the Polish people, caught me a bit off-guard. Politics and anti-political sentiment are certainly nothing new to the metal genre but the lyrical content D.F.O.P. take a more personal, life-story approach rather than simply railing against the political machine.

The production by Jarek Baran on this release ushers-in a more progressive/modern rock approach than with most CDs of the genre.. heavy and powerful yet not laden with distortion, allowing the bass and clean acoustics more room in the mix. The approach makes for a recording with more instrumental separation than the typical metal production, resulting in a more progressive yet very aggressive tone to the CD overall. I would personally like to hear a bit more high impact, aggressive writing and approach to the heavy end of the dynamic scale but this Polish quartet are not lacking in musicianship and have managed a very original sound.

The songs spiral through a cacophonic mesh of melodic black metal, thrash and ambience bound by brooding, atmospheric overtones and the dual (guttural and shriek) vocals of PanzerVst and Chiser making it very difficult to affix a genre to this band. Their label categorizes them as deathmetal but I personally think that far too limiting for them given the diversity of this release. Any fan of European black metal or atmospheric or ambient doom looking to stretch their legs intellectually should enjoy this release.

note: 6.0/10

Tracklist

01. The Worst Enemy
02. Consciousness Of The Beyond
03. Waiting For A Wings
04. Hospice Of Hope
05. Charity Of Death
06. Extraterrasial Mother
07. Dark Fields of Pain
08. Neverending Questions
09. Place Where Souls Are Dying