Release Date: 24th June 2022
Label: Soulseller Records
Genre: Black Metal

Tracklist:
01. Invocation Pestum
02. Summoning the Ancients
03. Thy Mighty Serpent
04. Invocation Perversum
05. Blasphemy
06. Bring down the Sun
07. Invocation Maledictum
08. Sworn to the Oath
09. Of Fang and Claw
10. Invocation Infectum
11. Death the Destroyer
12. Blood Moon

Line-up:

Daenum – Guitar
Tes Re Oth – Vocals
Draghul – Drums
Mørkald – Bass
Baelus – Guitar

Review by Felin Frost

Rate: 10/10

“Yours is my Flesh and my Spirit” ~

Burning the “Black Flame” between mortals since 2020, the Belgian Black Metal horde Serpents Oath is back with a sophomore album via Soulseller Records. Ascension will see the world on 24th June 2022. Let’s remember that on 4th December 2021, these guys took the world with their debut album Nihil. The first formation embodied an unmerciful trinity made up of Daenum(guitar), Tes Re Oth (vocals) and Draghul (drums). The rebellious Nihil brought a deep and brainy concept around transhumanism with a musical mantle that pushed the extreme metal genre to the limit.

Now Serpents Oath has sworn in two more members, Mørkald on bass and Baelus on Guitar, and thus, the hellish line-up is complete.

From left to right: Draghul (Drums), Baelus (Guitar), Tes Re Oth (Vocals), Mørkald (Bass) and Daenum (Guitar).
Credit: Doomsday Photography

If the band’s first album was already a 36-minute burst of strategically-arranged skill and strength, this time, Serpents Oath bet on a slightly longer album. That’s 12 insane tracks with 41:32 min of playing time in total. Every two tracks of extreme metal crush, the interludes of summoning rites are presented, arranged with quality and coherence, offering a dark and daunting ethereal atmosphere. Serpents Oath know very well what they’re doing; no cuts, no abrupt snags of tracks or mindless rhythm changes, it all fits together. Interludes are portals opening for an intense and original black metal.

“Invocation Pestum” solemnly opens the first portal. Without interruption, “Summoning the Ancients” starts, a musical piece of extreme strength and rhythm. The energy the band expends from the first screams and chords is surprising. This track was the first to be released as a lyric video on 21st April and band then commented:
“Summoning the Ancients describes the part of the occult ritual titled “the calling of the four winds”. It is an invitation for the Ancients Gods to join in true Communion. It is not a mere summons of their power but rather a general statement of one’s intent. As such, this song is imbued with that energy and will transfer that strength to those open to receiving.”

Receive the strength of this art below if you already didn’t yet.

…

“Thy Mighty Serpent” follows the intense rhythm and all the ritualistic atmosphere perpetuated; Tes surprises not only here but throughout the album with his powerful vocals accompanied by the frenetic guitars.

“Invocation Perversum” (the first and only invocation made by a woman) opens the second portal to “Blasphemy” and “Bring down the Sun”. Two tracks that bring a lot of power. “Bring down the Sun” mixes mid and fast tempos. Well built and in strategic sequence.

By the way, “Blasphemy” was the second music video dropped on 18th May. A real blast!

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Two more portals remain to open, “Invocation Maledictum”, which precedes “Sworn to the Oath” and “Of Fang and Claw”. “Invocation Infectum” is frightening but no less accurate and blindingly lit by words and the sound walls of “Death the Destroyer” and “Blood Moon”. I won’t dare to give you hints about these latest songs because you must eagerly await the release. I will say that 3rd single, “Blood Moon”, will be unleashed on 14th June via Black Metal Promotion.

Ascension is a new sonic dimension and surpasses Nihil; This second album perpetuates the saga of these Belgians who, through their rites of black art, bring a new vision of what pure black metal can become, meticulously constructed and performed in unison from the beginning to the end. Draghul, with his vigorous explosive drumming, Daenum, Baelus and Mørkald, offering and distilling thunderous riffs and Tes Re Oth, the great vocal maestro, imposing words like daggers beside the hellish screams. Serpents Oath provides you with an infinite journey of true knowledge and enlightenment.

The album was produced at Stage One Studio with Andy Classen. The great Néstor Avalos again created the fantastic cover art. It represents the next stage of Lucifer’s rebellion, featured on the cover of the band’s first full-length album, Nihil.

Ascension is the best black metal album of 2022. It’s Highly recommended.

PRE-ORDER ASCENSION HERE: https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ascension

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