Watchers of the Future

Greece just never stops to amaze me when it comes to music. The pick of the day is this pretty newish black/death commando going by the name Serpent’s Order. This band has been formed in 2017 by two fellas calling themselves Plague Bearer and Velnias. In 2020 their full length debut has finally seen the light of day, titled “Watchers of the Future”. While they surely are not going to win any prices for innovation or creativity this album is an angry little beast, going to slaughter without mercy by using mostly common trademarks in a perfect and professional way.

This album is seven tracks spanning exactly 42:47 minutes and has a rich, thick and heavy sound, complex but not too fussy. Typical tremolo picks and the pummeling blasts can be found here as well, building a strong basis of the music. The guitar work is switching between stoic and brooding parts and faster and more aggressive sections. There is a certain melodic factor in the music, but not so much at the surface, more subtly woven into the overall sound.

There are a few slower, nearly doomy pieces where the slightly melancholic guitar sound helps creating an eerie and depressing atmosphere. This is dark and moody music and while I am not talking about anything like ambient metal this album might not be the best fit for anyone looking for some overly catchy or fun music. The harmonies presented by the lead guitar can be very frightening and hypnotic, crawling under listener’s skin with ease. Some of the main themes are going to pierce your soul, and they often come and go over the course of the record, lending the whole thing a very stringent character.

Beside the fantastic guitar work also the rhythm parts should get some credit. The drumming (no matter if programmed or recorded live) is precise following the main patterns of each song and underlining several sections where an extra portion of intensity is needed. What really stands out is mature level of the songwriting. Each of the songs has a clear structure and the two guys managed to give each track its own identification code, with each of them perfectly fitting into the whole picture. There is a good portion of rhythm and tempo changes, but overall the songs follow a clear and stringent structure. The soloing parts are well implemented and never overstay their welcome. The vocals are fantastic, sounding desperate and harsh like the instrumentation.

The production is spot on with the right combination of rawness and clarity to give each instrument and sonic detail enough room to breathe. The end result is an overall very natural and organic sound fitting the music like a glove. The CD version of “Watchers of the Future” comes with nice and atmospheric artwork, so each collector should be glad to get enough worth for his money. Fans of black/death should give this one a listen.