Sea of Snakes – The Serpent & The Lamb
Sea of Snakes – The Serpent & The Lamb
Metal Assault Records
Release Date: 14/10/22
Running Time: 42:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
9/10
Drawing deep from the well of Metal, Hard Rock, and Stoner with an additional serving of Doom, the debut album from Los Angeles quartet Sea of Snakes should resonate with those who like their music to combine genres. It’s a sludgy sound that combines Black Label Society with Alice in Chains in a high octane ten-track riff fest.
Opening with the powerful ‘Start a War’, Sea of Snakes begin the release with a pounding, high tempo driver of a track that immediately gives notice of intent. Thick riffs combine with Jason Busiek’s superb throaty roar. Reminiscent of Zakk Wylde and Chris Cornell, Busiek’s delivery fits ideally with the overall tempo of the song, which bristles with energy for the first part, slowing to a more powerful yet slower pace and then hitting the speed button once again as the song picks up speed. It’s a huge opener, a statement of intent and a testosterone fuelled rampage.
It’s Sabbath worship next on ‘Demon Seed’, a slower but crunchier piece which sees Busiek bring a swagger to his vocals as the slow burning riff cascades. There’s more than a hint of the bluesy side of Down, such is the NOLA feel, but whatever the influences, it’s a song that soaks deep into the bones. The riffs keep coming, a dirty, fuzzed up feel on ‘Get the Gun’, whilst the crunching doom-soaked ‘End of the Sun’ drops a different style, less urgency, more sludge with some bone jarring segments that could damage foundations. Busiek can vary his vocals as well, moving into a slower, more measured but still emotive pace.
Continuing in the variation of style comes the haunting ‘Dead Man’s Song’ which is a little grungy, echoing the kind of evocative piece that Alice in Chains delivered so well. It’s a poignant track, the ringing vocal over some superb guitar work from Jim McCloskey. It’s perfectly positioned in the running order, allowing a breather before the tempo increases for ‘Third Kind’, a groove-based hard rocker that’s addictive in both feel and delivery. The deluge of riffs continues with ‘In Hell’, whilst there is more Sabbath-tinged darkness on ‘God of Creation’.
The final two songs don’t let up. ‘Hands are Tied’ is an intense ride, fires burning as the band turn up the fuzz substantially. It’s heavy, it’s rowdy, and it’s intoxicating. To conclude the album with a track as powerful as the sludge ridden ‘The Ritual’ merely shows the quality on offer here.
For a band formed only two years ago, “The Serpent & The Lamb” is an assured debut release. There’s a confidence about it which is fantastic, the sheer fury with which the tracks crash in bruising and in Busiek, they have a singer who can really adapt to the range the band bring.
‘Third Kind’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Start A War
02. Demon Seed
03. Get the Gun
04. End of the Sun
05. Dead Man’s Song
06. Third Kind
07. In Hell
08. God of Creation
09. Hands are Tied
10. The Ritual
LINE-UP:
Jim Mccloskey – Guitars
Jeff Murray – Drums
Jason Busiek – Vocals
Lorenzo Almanza – Bass
LINKS:
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