Album Review: Serpents Oath – Revelation (Odium Records)

After the release of their acclaimed albums ‘Nihil’ and ‘Ascension’, Belgian black metal horde Serpents Oath have signed with Odium Records to release their third album, ‘Revelation’, on December 20th, 2023.

Black metal ripped straight from the fires of hell; Revelation is the sound of eternal suffering. Featuring twelve dark and harsh examples of the genre at its rawest, with a thick coating of atmosphere to really put the listener in a torturous headspace.

Beginning in ominous fashion with the short introduction of Invocatio Genesis, the wickedness arrives in full force as Blood Covenant causes unrepenting blackened carnage. Heavy, fast, and furious sounding, Serpents Oath are in a scowling and scathing mood clearly. Further proved by the cacophony of evil that is Gateways to Tiamat and the cacophony of hate that is Purification Through Fire. The black metal power of Serpents Oath turning the mind into mush.

Which does mean the intermission of Invocatio Apocalypsis is extremely welcome, just for the momentary let-up, even though its ambience is extremely sinister sounding.

It’s back to the fiery ferocity with Beyond the Void as Serpents Oath throw their all into delivering a crushing display of heaviness. Before turning the cruelty up a notch with the delectably malicious Drakonian Gnosis and dragging the listener in suffocating depths with Path of the Serpent. Black metal fans rejoice, Serpents Oath are the epitome of black metal’s old and modern schools combined.

Take a breather, it’s the uncomfortable atmosphere of Invocatio Resurrectio, which leads into the explosivity of Cult of Death. A raging inferno of blackened heaviness with layers upon layers of gloom. Then along comes waves of scorching heat with Unto Typhon, before the delightful maltreatment wraps up with the epic soul-rendering that is Pandaemonium. A dazzling showcase of twisted torment, darkly melodic and deeply dangerous black metal. Just when you think you’ve heard the best of this genre in 2023, Serpents Oath sneak in at the end of the year with an absolute beast of a release.

Serpents Oath – Revelation Track Listing:

1. Invocatio Genesis
2. Blood Covenant
3. Gateways to Tiamat
4. Purification Through Fire
5. Invocatio Apocalypsis
6. Beyond the Void
7. Drakonian Gnosis
8. Path of the Serpent
9. Invocatio Resurrectio
10. Cult of Death
11. Unto Typhon
12. Pandaemonium

Links

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