SERPENTINE DOMINION is one of those bands that comes along probably once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. With KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’S Adam Dutkiewicz on guitar, Shannon Lucas on the drums, and the one and only George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher on the bloodthirsty vocals this project was destined for greatness from the start. Plus, KILLSWITCH singer Jesse Leach wrote the lyrics for this self-titled debut…how cool and supportive is THAT of your bandmate’s other endeavors, huh? This is the album you wanna kill everything in sight to, believe me. And then think about eating some dead flesh.
Opener “The Vengeance In Me” is all asses and elbows with a monkey wrench flying all over the place, Dutkiewicz’s riffs and solo gouging out eyeballs left and right. “Vengeance In Me” is an absolute ripper from start to finish, while “Divide, Conquer, Burn, and Destroy” could be my own personal National Fucking Anthem, considering how much I hate everyone. Seriously, this tune makes me want to grab an axe and start splitting heads while reveling in the blood spatter every time I swing down. “Sovereign Hate” has this super-sinister beginning, then, next thing you know, everyone’s being thrown in the wood chipper while some clean vocals make their way into the mix.
“On the Brink of Devastation” is sheer Death Metal perfection from beginning to end. Corpsegrinder owns this bitch and fucks your eyeballs out with his performance. Well there’s that, and the fact that the music is pretty fucking killer, too. Tell me you don’t wanna hit something after this and I’ll call you a liar right to your face. “Jagged Cross Legions” has some different things happening, clean vocals here and there, for one , but they work just fine. Out of nowhere comes “Prelude”, an acoustic song that just captivates you right away. The melody has been stuck in my head for weeks now.
Closing track “This Endless War” will no doubt be a mosh pit favorite, because it’s just insane when it goes off. This unit works really well together, and I hope that SERPENTINE DOMINION isn’t just a one-and-done deal. Because I guarantee there’s a lot more they have to share with the world. The band should no doubt be in contention for Death metal Album of the Year, whether they get my vote or not. Pick up your copy of the self-titled debut album on October 28 via Metal Blade Records, drink some beers, pour some shots, and rock the fuck out. That’s what I’m doing, and you should too!!
STANDOUT TRACKS: ALL OF THEM
RATING: 9.5/10
