Europe undoubtedly dominates much of the Metal scene, being home to a slew of brilliant musicians. This makes it all the more interesting to see what talent other countries can muster, particularly those seldom associated with Metal. And one such a band from a relatively obscure corner of the Metal world is the South African band INFANTERIA. Having won fame for themselves by being the first South African band to ever play the notorious Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, INFANTERIA are back this year to unleash their second full-length album, "Where Serpents Conquer". Having had the pleasure of seeing INFANTERIA perform their debut "Isolated Existence" album live several times, I was eager to see how the band had progressed with their sophomore effort. Based on a fantasy world of people controlled by serpent-like creatures, this concept album sees INFANTERIA push their boundaries, taking strides towards establishing their own unique sound.

Starting off with the title track, a driving rhythm soon sets in, with guitars and drum teaming up to form the dynamic backbone. Influences of METALLICA are immediately evident in the dominant vocal style, although different vocal techniques are used to add divergent textures to the music. This mix-up of styles is also mirrored in the guitar melodies, which range from a pure full-on Thrash assault, all the way to more Melodic Death, bringing bands such as DEALS DEATH to mind. Whilst indisputably containing a massive torrential serving of Thrash, other musical influences also come to the fore. For example, the ballad-like feel of "We All Have Dreams" adds completely new facets to the album, and showcases the broad spectrum of INFANTERIA's ability. This stands in complete contrast to the faster paced anthems like "Silence in Sleep" which blatantly defies you to keep still, with cascades of more technical guitar sections perfectly countering the chuggy onslaught that hits you with the irresistible force of a freight train. Ending off with "Runes in the Red Forest", the bass comes to the foreground, leading the final charge into a song tinged in equal amounts with determined aggression and blinding futility.

Overall, "Where Serpents Conquer" is undeniably a very strong release. One of the things I love about this album is how tangibly confident INFANTERIA have become in their own sound, with this being apparent in their willingness to go beyond the boarders they previously set out for themselves. Nevertheless, this is perhaps not perfectly mastered yet, with rare moments where the various components of the songs feel like they were forced together, making some of the modulations between the different sections slightly jarring. But then again, this is one of the pitfalls of concept albums: trying to match the music to the vision. Still, this is easy to overlook, and the fact remains that this is a beast of an album, and one which will irrevocably entrench INFANTERIA even more firmly in their fans' hearts, as well as hopefully garner them the recognition they deserve. If you've never heard of these guys, do yourself a favour: check them out, and let yourself be steamrollered by their monstrous power.