How can another band from
Sweden possibly stand out from the ridiculously crowded melodic death
metal scene? It can't be easy right? Well, Legion (vocals) and Emil
(drums), both former members of Marduk, have tastefully expanded upon
Marduk's penchant for brutal, crusty blackened death anthems,
incorporating their love for old school heavy metal with modern
ferocity. Equal parts NWOBHM accessibility, satanic shredding and Viking
march bombast.
Nine Winged Serpent sounds like a really good Judas Priest record
if Halford sounded like that dead dude from Dissection and they were
trying to make a Bolt Thrower album. Press play and you'll be filled
with tales of fallen angels and heresy. Images of dark, cloud filled
skies are conjured from within. By the way,...nothing good is happening
UNDER those skies,...on the blood soaked ground. The mood is unsettling
although not down right jolting, but trust me, this thing has a vibe
unlike most Swedish death. The production of mixing maestro Fredrik
Nordstrom (Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir) helps significantly. Little
nuances. Like a brief acoustic whisper below a slowed down belch on
"Heresy". Or the incredibly cool "turntable stop" ending at the end of
"Dressed In Blood". It was so effective, I thought some demon spirit had
just unplugged my cd player.
I'll have to admit, I do enjoy Marduk more than DEVIAN. Straight
up brutality often trumps diversity. But this is a damn good listen.
Plenty of memorable hooks and death vocal stoked choruses. Six string
aerobics in abundance without taking away from the compact, thrashy
Scandinavian ear bleed. If you're more of a Norwegian straggler, rest
assured, copious black metal blasts await,...screaming and scraping cum
incoherence..
