Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: SERPENTS; signed via War Anthem Records, hailing from Swedish grounds - performing Black Metal, on their sophomore EP entitled: "The Brimstone Clergy" (released November 30th, 2020).

Since formation in 2018; the trio in question have only 2 EPs in their discography so far entitled: "Serpents" (released October 22nd, 2019) & this here 2nd EP that I am introduced to entitled: "The Brimstone Clergy." 6 tracks raging at around 21:44; SERPENTS arrange an intricately designed formula on some heavy-hitting Black Metal developments.

Unearthing this ritualistic yet sombre opening distilling harmonic hymns within this religious set bound in a graveyard as bells chime and an acoustic riff intrudes... (using my imagination here) "Worship The Reprobate" begins the EP with this sonically seamless barrage in blistering frenzies on primitively raw maelstrom velocity where speedy grooves, and striking pursuits revel with rhythmic punchiness. Trailblazing with skyrocketing panache, jumpy calamities and a gnarly flamboyance on distorted grinds in which utilize this surging vehemence on tempestuously triggering synergies that showcases sulphurous yet bulldozing attributes; amplified to ten with these boisterously bouncy impacts with tight weightiness. Savagely meaty profanity possesses you to break chairs over other chairs, as rompy sturdiness pulverises speakers and eardrums with this fretwork firepower adrenaline that will rattle skulls while  this relentlessly moving motivation revolves through souls with spellbinding manifestations.

Consisting of H on vocals; the frontman excels at a deadly ramification on pipes that shout with throaty raspiness, and an extreme dose on some raging roars which soars with immensely intense bellows. "End The Slavery Of Being" beckons a blistering attack on blasphemous bestiality, where O on guitars/bass assimilates a concretely gritty bombardment on organic substance; rapidly swift nimbleness & sinister bass audibility that thumps with rumbling reverberation on killer laceration expertise. Engaging a dexterously dynamic virtuosity on quintessential pandemonium, ruthlessly forging a venomous slab on some monstrously crunchy aesthetics that rip with salubriously volatile thumpiness. "Bring The Apocalypse" demonstrates chiselling density that ramps up with more vicious but drony doom injections as this vibrantly quirky rowdiness scours with remedious noise until speeding up with more malevolent yet chaotic havoc on chugging frolics & galloping hammering from battering drummer S.

Slamming with rambunctious piledriving persistency, "Shattered Paradise" unravels this stompy precision on steely tempos that snarl with rompy perseverance while gravitating into a furious boundary as a borderline foundation on extreme but catchy aggression, creating a constructive drill on ominously jarring crescendos and a flair on acidic but acerbic vocal range punctuates the sound production with thudding yet motoring madness. Until "Interlude In B Minor" is a brief acoustic segment, resonating with a blackened but dark orchestration until overall concluding "The Brimstone Clergy" with the finale crusher: "Requiem" with resounding yet razor-sharp chunkiness. Implementing crisp but fluidly polished outrè with massively mellifluous contrast on killer laceration flexibility, fundamentally supplying this belting but bruising ballistic rampage on primal plods and a full throttle thrill closes in a brilliantly driving fashion on caustic instrumentation with these frenetic contribution represent this fierce but cavernously cemented slab of solid songwriting musicianship proficiencies.

Bottom line; I am compelled to say that SERPENTS certainly outdone themselves with their second offering of refined systematics on Black Metal mayhem. I discovered an enjoyably entertaining slice of slaying robustness, and a complexly crafted exhilaration on indefinitely brutal enrichments that result with skillful significance. Whatever they unleash next could indeed map the band at the uproarious forefront of the underground Black Metal scene with no doubt in my mind. Most worthy of a few spins or more, do check it out.