Serpent of Old – Ensemble Under the Dark Sun (Transcending Obscurity)
Wednesday, 26th July 2023
Typically, the nation of Turkey isn’t associated with the darker side of metal’s many subgenres. Acts such as Witchtrap (the country’s first black metal band) and Moribund Oblivion serve as fine examples of the blackened side of things, while Cenotaph have famously been providing slabs of brutal death metal since 1993. However, when it comes to the more eclectic sides of these aforementioned styles, obvious examples don’t jump off the tongue quickly. With the debut of Serpent of Old, that thankfully is about to decisively change.
With Ensemble Under the Dark Sun being the five-piece’s first release, the intricacy of the mixture they’ve concocted is especially profound. Think of the depth and dissonance of Ulcerate and Nightmarer, mixed with a black metal tinge of label mates Decipher, and a bleakness of Misþyrming, and one will get a broad idea of what Serpent of Old are brewing. Even compelling layers of doom creep into their diverse and mostly lengthy compositions, of which consists of six tracks of weighty decadence.
Tracks such as opener “The Sin Before the Great Sin” prevail in exercising a cold blackened aesthetic combined with monolithic doom-inspired riffs that saturate the psyche. Moody and uncompromising, these fellows lure the listener into their grasp and hold on tight. Death metal rhythm guitars combine with searing tremolos and foggy atmospheres in “Unsaturated Hunger and Esoteric Lust,” propelled by the monstrous drumming of Kerem Kaan – an immense talent and master of his craft whose signature fills are a standout element of Ensemble Under the Dark Sun. Lest we forget his rhythmic partner in crime, bassist Yalaz Öner, who lays down thick and thumping lines that add a significant low end, aiding in giving the band’s sound significant power.
Traversing down the death/doom route is “The Fall,” of which boasts slower, droning riffs to cultivate the menacing soundscapes that Serpent of Old strives to engulf the listener with. Most formidable amongst the entries is “From the Impending Dusk”; a discordant tour de force filled with ominous chants and Ozan Gürbüz’s blood curdling screams, melded together with memorable riffs/leads and intricate songwriting that weaves a most disturbing tale. Guitarists Doğa Tarhan and Atakan Güçlü form quite the duo, assaulting the senses with pointed ferocity and a distinctive knack for placing the right piece in exactly the right place every time.
If painstakingly crafted, gripping, and unrelenting music with a massive dose of foreboding is one’s proclivity, look no further than Serpent of Old. Ensemble Under the Dark Sun is a record that’s attention to detail and surprising maturity put it in the upper echelon of extreme metal releases thus far in 2023, and it only improves with repeated listens. Debuts this extraordinary are indeed a rarity, and we’ll be eagerly awaiting what Serpent of Old does next. Hail the new kings of Turkish metal.
