LP Review: "Entropic Disillusion" by Shrine of the Serpent

Entropic Disillusion

In my younger years, the idea of making music with my high school best friend was something that was so unreal and so  mystical.

It was nearly impossible to endure those sessions of his trying to teach me songs on guitar and bass. Because he was my friend, I did it.

Years later, after I'd moved back to St. Louis and our friendship was fizzling out it finally happened. We hung out together and played music.

He was on his Stu Hamm signature bass and I on my Gremlin guitar through an amplifier that had two sounds: inaudible and broken down rusty chainsaw. There was no need for a distortion pedal in that setup. His father came downstairs and laughed at my tone...with good reason.

Shrine of the Serpent

For some reason my guitar tone circa 1996 has become rather popular in the underground metal scene.

Perhaps it's my experience with this, but it sounds like home to me.

Shrine of the Serpent's debut album, Entropic Disillusion, is full of guttural chainsaw guitars.

The songs are deceptively simple, meaning, there's more there than meets the eye.

On first glace, this is a funeral doom metal band with some black metal influences.

They're playing those long drawn out songs with long drawn out chords.

But, listen carefully, and there's hooks and harmonies along with the razor wire. Perhaps describing it simply as razor wire was the way to, but here we are.

The songs are long. The vibe is dark. The album is very long. Shrine of the Serpent could have easily taken these tracks, sped them up, and been a black metal band.

But they'd be just another face in a crowded field of me too losers. This album is special because they played it slow and low. If this album was a dish at a barbecue, it would be the smoked brisket.

The tracks pull you because they're slow. You can cook faster, but that won't make it any better.

Release: 4/23/18
Genre: Funeral Doom Metal
Label: Memento Mori
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