Melbourne four-piece Holy Serpent delivers the goods with this 5 track release. From the doomy album opener Purification of Fire to the violins and cello of album closer Sativan Harvest, the band show diversity missing in many bands within the genre. The vocal delivery by Scott Penberthy is haunting from the get-go and Saint Vitus is the first band that comes to mind. Surely enough the band wear the influences of early Soundgarden, Kyuss and Saint Vitus on their sleeves.
Bury Me Standing is a standout track with a guitar solo which starts the song and is accompanied by that dirty, thick riff that would even please the die-hard Pentagram fan. Next track Towards the Sands starts off as a stoner rock jam and soon becomes a doom-filled delight. The slow-burning riff provides fuzz of the highest frequencies that lead to an all-out fast-paced jam. The guitars of both Scott and Nick Donoughue bounce off each other nicely while drummer Danny Leo and bassist Dave Bartlett hold the fort.
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The bluesy riff of the final track, Sativan Harvest closes off the album with epic proportions. For almost twelve minutes the listener is taken down that doomed road one last time with those unmistakable drones of the guitar and pulverising bass. The ride comes to a halt with the unexpected sounds of violin, cello and synth. Although there are only five tracks the lengthiness of the infectious tunes leave us with 44 minutes of material with no filler in sight. Be sure to check out this great group of talented musicians when they come to town.
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