CD Review: Marduk - Serpent Sermon

Written by Ricarda Menn Monday, 21 May 2012 14:50

Artist: Marduk
Title: Serpent Sermon
Genre: Black Metal
Release Date: 25th May 2012
Label: Century Media Records

Album Review

It may be needless to introduce MARDUK, since anyone familiar with the genre of Black Metal has at least a vague idea of the concept behind the band - namely the Panzer Division and consequently their fast and shredding music. Ever since their foundation in 1990, the Swedes have influenced the genre considerably with albums like ‘Dark Endless’ (1992) or the well-known ‘Panzer Division Marduk’ (1999). Since then, their style has been constantly modified and nowadays, brutality encounters manifold song structures. With ‘Serpent Sermon’, MARDUK are about to release their twelfth studio record. The title track and opener ‘Serpent Sermon’ varies between shredding guitars, mid-tempo interludes and an almost epic, atmospheric chorus. ‘Messianic Pestilence’ continues rather fast and straight-forward, whereas ‘Souls for Belial’ starts off with a croaked intro and includes lots of changes in speed as well as harsh yet graspable lyrics.

The following ‘Into Second Death’ is definitely a very remarkable and grooving song, with very dominant drums and a dark, mean atmosphere. ‘Temple of Decay’ is more tempered and conveys a very evil and dense mood. Death Metal influences can be heard on the subsequent ‘Damnation’s Gold’, whilst ‘Hail Mary (Piss-soaked Genuflexion)’ states a traditional Black Metal song with blasphemous lyrics, atonal phrases but also fast and demanding guitar work. The rest of the album, including the shortest track ‘Gospel of the Worm’ or the long, diversified final ‘World of Blades’ provide no surprises. ‘Serpent Sermon’ is a well-produced and felicitous record which encompasses all of MARDUK’S characteristic musical features - fastness, brutality and speed, mixed up with a dose of evil spirit and atmospheric parts. Fans of the band and well-made Black Metal will surely be satisfied with this record, although it is not as innovative and experimental as ‘Rom 5:12’.


Tracklist

01. Serpent Sermon
02. Messianic Pestilence
03. Souls for Belial
04. Into Second Death
05. Temple of Decay
06. Damnation's Gold
07. Hail Mary (Piss-soaked Genuflexion)
08. M.A.M.M.O.N.
09. Gospel of the Worm
10. World of Blades


Line-up

Mortuus – Vocals
Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson – Guitar
Devo – Bass
Lars Broddesson – Drums


Website

www.marduk.nu / www.facebook.com/mardukofficial


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10


Buy the album here!