Maybe thanks to the globalization of the movement, the passion the fans have to talk about it, or just the sheer heaviness of the style, it seems that Doom Metal is more popular now than at any time in the 40 plus years of the genre. Starting through BLACK SABBATH in the UK, there are now plenty of sub-genres of the sub-genre itself. SERPENT VENOM - the band up for current discussion - also call the UK their home, and perform in more of a classic, Traditional Doom manner on this second full-length album "Of Things Seen and Unseen".

These 8 songs feature an ominous, bellowing vocalist in Garry Ricketts who conjures up deep, dark emotions of angst and despair and a musical soundtrack from his trio of compatriots that love CATHEDRAL and SAINT VITUS as much as the riff master Tony Iommi who begat this love for the genre. You get sucked into the subtle, somber swing sway of the 8:13 "The Lords of Life" as easily as you will the lumbering fogginess for "Let Them Starve". You gain as much from Nick Davies bottom end bass thump as you do the feedback oriented measures from guitarist Roland Scriver - while drummer Paul Sutherland keeps the resting heart beat tempos steady in the pocket, throwing fill flourishes for proper riff embellishment.

Highlights change as this album receives more exposure - but I'd say safely "Pilgrims of the Sun" at 9:23 could signal a somber demise as the low neck note bends and Garry's mountain top lyrical bellows should send enough chills to the spine to influence winter hibernation. Packaged at a relatively tidy 48 minutes, SERPENT VENOM may not be reinventing the Doom wheel so much as just adding their own influence stew to the pot and creating a set of songs sure to speak volumes to any stressful situation you could face - and make a smile appear instantly.