Serpentes are a Portuguese black metal band and this is their debut album.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of Angrenost, Misþyrming, Naðra, Skáphe, and Svartidauði, Desert Psalms contains 46 minutes of malicious black metal.
Serpentes walk a path of burning passion into the depths of the scorching darkness, and they drag you along with them, writhing in the heat of their maleficent potency.
Desert Psalms is harsh and aggressive, but with a well-developed atmospheric side. It’s like listening to an occult ritual that’s simultaneously an exploration of malevolent violence. The songs are scathing abominations that sear flesh from bone with abrasive intensity. They terrify the mortals with their infernal grandeur, soaring to the heavens to rain hellfire upon those below.
Desert Psalms has a dissonant and avant-garde aspect, but is not restricted to merely this. It is a record of multifaceted expression, all bent towards an esoteric black metal vision that’s infectious. All of the record’s component parts work together in concert to produce something greater than their sum. The album’s production allows this to all be presented with clarity and power, making Desert Psalms an easy record to listen to, assuming you’re accustomed to navigating the realms of the underground blackened arts.
The songs are well-written, with a good grasp of pacing, dynamics, and structure. There’s a strong sense of coherent worldbuilding here, with each song building on the whole. Serpentes exhibit some creative ideas across the album, making for a well-rounded experience for the listener to immerse themselves in. There are blistering blackened leads and melodies that frequently steal breath from lungs, while the impassioned vocals spit, snarl, and utter foul incantations with venomous vigour.
Overall, Desert Psalms is a high quality album through and through. It offers the listener a dark and malevolent black metal experience that’s absorbing and rewarding.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Don’t let Serpentes pass you by.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 