From Bandcamp, “SEROTONIN explore the darker side of the human brain in its natural environment. The human penchant for rampant stupidity will never cease to be fertile soil for lyrical inspiration. For “Motiv,” the band enlisted the help of metal stalwarts Magnus Devo Andersson at Endarker Studio, who provided the album with its powerful and clear mix and Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios for the dynamic mastering. The stunning cover art was created by Danish visionary Emil Underbjerg.” The album has seven songs.

“Climbing the Colossus” is first, and solemn tones come out of the gate, leading to a full on charge of aggression. It slows around the half-way point with more forceful gutturals before the charge returns. “Sinner Box” has some psychedelic guitar work coming from the effects, and it moves forward with a creepy pace. There are some sober moments as well, but the song is mostly focused on aggression. “Gerrote in D” features perhaps the three most common chords in Metal music. They create a descending quality to the music that gives it that infamous Black Metal edge.

“Kanishibari” begins with a much slower pace, almost as if they song is gathering strength to soon unleash on the world. The bass and guitar sputter in waiting. It stays that way for much of the song. “Giloma Psychedelica” is another aggressive song but beyond a few meter changes, the band seems to be taking the safer way out of things by sticking to one core sound. “Spike Wave Discharge” is slow, sludgy, and dirty, from a low riff and contentious vocals. There is a slower passage where it sounds like a beast is awakening, but the band abandons it too quickly. “Leidmotiv” closes the album. It’s a faster and move vital sound, and here the band is hitting their stride perfectly. If only there were more songs like this one on the album.

This wasn’t a bad album by any stretch of the imagination, and I love the subject matter and the band’s contention that people are basically stupid, but the music just wasn’t overly exciting, and they took the safe way out by sticking for formulas that have been used too many times in the past.