SERPENT CROWN is a Bay Area Thrash Metal band who has just released their first, self-titled full length through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. While their sound pays homage to their hometown in many ways with crunching guitars reminiscent of TESTAMENT, the lack of stylistic diversity and the ability to expand upon the groundwork already laid out and perfected in many ways by so many makes this a rather forgettable release.

Let's begin with the album's production. A rather weak and distant mix disguises the drums in many aspects and the overall sound of the record doesn't properly display the kind of powerful guitars that I have come to expect in a style such as this that demands bold and proud instrumentation. Dara Santhai's vocals, although quite interesting and in many ways one of the more unique aspects of the band's sound, appear muffled and don't display themselves profoundly enough in the mix to garner the kind of respect they deserve.

If sounding like a demo wasn't enough, the album's rather generic and mundane songs also don't demand the attention of the listener. In such a saturated market such as thrash it is so important to expand upon a certain characteristic that helps you stand out in the crowd. MUNICIPAL WASTE, for example, managed to stand out by building upon the punk aspects of the crossover style that helped revive that sound and made for some interesting records. SERPENT CROWN's debut doesn't necessarily achieve this for the most part because it doesn't go for the jugular when it needs to. Tracks such as "Prelude To The Netherworld" and "Doomsayer" beg for interesting and well placed leads that just never come while the drumming of Will Carroll lacks the kind of fills and rolls that suggest a personality fitting of a Thrash man. One track did however save this demo for me and convinced me of what can make SERPENT CROWN stand out. "To Leave This Land" is a well written jam that in so many ways embodies the attitude and dark horror-punk style of bands such as 45 GRAVE that I found myself continuously re-playing the track. Santhai's vocals fit the track perfectly, the song fit well the abilities of the musicians, the laid back and gritty production actually gave the track character, and it stood out because no band has the components to pull such a sound off.

Although SERPENT CROWN's debut in many ways was forgettable, if they can expand upon what makes them unique I feel this first record will in many ways be a success.