Helsinki's black metal merchants deal another card on the table. With every release Thy Serpent have evolved quite a lot. It's always interesting to hear what will come next. This time I was quite surprised, after downloading 'Wounds of Death's edit version from the net. And when I got 'Death', I was surprised again!

The reason: 'Sleep...' is very dark death metal (at least the beginning of the track). I thought this relese will be more an death metal affair, but no. The reason: 3 remaining tracks are (partly) more relaxed, I mean in tempo and brutality. Still, this ain't any pussy, romantic shit, no! Every track is extremely well composed, with multiple parts and variety, nicely following moods and lyrics (about death and anti-Christianity, what else?!). Some parts remind me of older Katatonia, Opeth and Rapture, but still it's pure pure Thy Serpent, don't get me wrong, the band's previous release 'Christcrusher' (1998) showed that this could happen (just listen to 'Chambers of the Starwatcher' and 'Circle of Pain for example)! So, the black metal roots aren't showing much any more and that might some fans of the band yearn for those archaic times.

The band sounds tight, even that 'Death' introduces us two new members. Agathon left and Teemu Laitinen plays drums and Tomi Ullgren handles lead guitar now. Azhemin's vocals sound better and more moody than ever before. The sound is clean and well balanced, allowing nuances to rise to forth.

I simply can't wait for more, so get that long player out soon, okay?! This fucking 'Death' is immortal!

Rating: 8½ (out of 10)

Reviewed by Lane 2000

Three years passed since this Old Nick put something out to people after time of mixed feelings and patient waiting. The band isn't active nowadays but still hasn't split up despite the loooong break and some rumours. But back to the issue, 'Death' contains four listener-friendly tracks summing up the length something around 20 minutes. It could be described that this Serpent created a whole new skin compared to the 'Forest of Witchery' (1996) and 'Christhcrusher' (1998) days. That only doesn't concern the line-up changes but in the year 2000 it also introduced itself as a pure dark metal band with almost nothing its former character in it. This album wasn't expected.

Observing the lyric entity, the anti-Christian message is still strong and by more mature approach it really succeeds to be taken seriously. No priests is urged to be raped and churches to burn this time.

On this effort, the theme includes a continual story of waiting death in infinite solitude, letting death bring salve to the wounds of life. The story has been cut into four pieces: The first one,' Deathbearer', unleashes the doomish feeling at once and the heavily overriding guitars and low growlings leaves the listener in confusion. Second one, 'Wounds of Life', goes on in more slower character with its rugged atmosphere. A masterpiece indeed. The third, 'Sleep in Oblivion', responses in insipid way to what the beginning of this experience got me to expect. This is definitely the weakest part of the album but still keeps on with the story. Now the "I" of that story has awaken in oblivion and willingly leaves this world and continues towards the unknown. Fourth, the 'Parasites', is a telling song by how the band states its view of the Christian world. After these four displays of the band's inmost from the beginning of the millennium sets me to believe its chances to bring up something more surprising and glorious next time.

This album really demands its listeners to plunge onto it alone - so it also works best. Thy Serpent's recent release leaves us once again to throw questions in the air of what to expect next.

Rating: 9+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Qvestiphilos
10/30/2006 14:45