How about this: One of the better thrash/death metal (or death/thrash) albums from 1988 has lyrics from Christian point of view? I'm not kidding you, because Louisiana's Incubus unleashed their very much powerful debut full-length album 'Serpent Temptation' in April of that year.

'Serpent Temptation' is a 37-minute long textbook against perils of evil.

"Beware the Anti-christ will be here.
To exterminate our religion each year.
Because he knows the Son of Man is near.
Don't be afraid Jesus Christ will be here.
The end is near.
Let's all beware.
Of the prophecies."

Yeah, it can be very hilarious reading those lyrics. Just like Satan kicking Jesus' ass. Any way you look at it... Other song guide not to listen to demons and how Adam & Eve fell. Then again, here are songs about murderers, money grabbing preacher, and metal music. So, just grab the album and mosh the fuck up! Which really didn't happen in 1988... Was it bad promoting or the lyrics that mad Incubus one of those bands that didn't catch much wind on their sails?

Hard to say, but it certainly wasn't their music. Incubus mixed death metal and thrash metal seamlessly, of course in a song and not altering between style by each a track. It doesn't sound only like US metal, but also German at times. It can be evil-sounding like Morbid Angel (when I mentioned a band, it's early versions I'm referring to) or Deicide, epic as an epic heavy metal band, crazy as Slayer or Kreator, streetwise as Overkill or Sacred Reich, punky as Sodom or even grinding like Napalm Death at its fastest parts. Sometimes, this could be pioneering, and not just copying aforementioned bands. Why? Because this came out in 1988... Catchy and chaotic, epic and pillaging, Incubus covered a lot of ground here, never failing to sound fucking cool.

The riffing can be attacking, pulverizing, epic or groovy. The guitar sound is heavy yet ripping. Solos are either on melodious side (ones one can remember easily) or then they are insane like, say, Slayer's or Kreator's. At fastest its really a guitar tornado, slower palm-muted riffage can be totally commanding. There was one guitar player, Francis M. Howard, but guitar are at times happening on more than one track, especially during solos.

The vocals are mostly rattling throat with reverb, fastly shooting out lyrics. Not unlike Sepultura or Sodom. They aren't particularly powerful, but do their job. There are shouts and voices like a man choked. The vocals and bass guitar were handled by Scott W. Latour.

The tempos from Moyses M. Howard vary from mid-paced to fast blasting. The blasting isn't quite as fast as Pete Sandoval's, but that is compensated by its heaviness. The beats are altered, so it's not repeating itself a lot. As it was late 1980s, there was no triggers, so power of hit mattered. It doesn't have much or any sloppiness, either. Generally, very well accomplished, skinsbashing-wise. The bass guitar is a bit lost in the mix, probably because it closely follows slightly reverbing drums.

'Serpent Temptation' was also available as partly re-recorded version in 1996, which I have not heard. Anyway, nothing can stop this original version from moshing your day away. A bloody fantastic classic from the golden era of metal music. Now, do you need more hints, eh?!?!?

Rating: 9½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/27/2018 20:46