Monday, October 1, 2018

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Serpent's Curse review



HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Serpent's Curse  

Transcending Obscurity Records




I'm having a problem as to classifying this one. Is it a super-group, a side project, who knows? Basically this is the work / creation of multi instrumentalist Jonny Pettersson. Now he's been in many acts that I've never heard of but I do know he's in Sweden's WOMBBATH. 


The second person of note in this musical project is vocalist Ralf Hauber. Now if you're a fan of Euro death metal then you probably know he fronts Germany's long running REVEL IN FLESH. If you don't then I suggest you pick up a copy of their Emissary of All Plagues full length from a few years ago. 


Now adding fuel to this fire Pettersson has also enlisted fellow WOMBBATH band mate Hakan Stuvemark as well as Matt Moliti from SENTIENT HORROR to lay down a few guitar solos. Finally on drums there's Erik Bevenrud who spends time in another super-group / side project I've written about previously, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN. 


So now that we've named all the players, what is this thing musically. Well supposedly this is the debut album by Pettersson & company (which means there will be more) and it's straight up death metal. Well more to the point it's a more horrific bent influenced version of old school Swedish death metal. Like seeing ENTOMBED on Halloween. 


Now I know there will be people reading this thinking "Swedish DM? Heard it all before." And I believe you'd be missing out since for starters Ralf Hauber is an amazing DM vocalist. He is a major contributor to this release being more than average. Secondly Pettersson's song writing follows the genre's left hand path of fiery fast riff cuts to slower moody doom passages. And of course with the two guest guitar slingers adding lines that cut through any type of boredom. So like I referred to earlier this is not to be overlooked.


https://tometal.com/

https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/album/serpents-curse-death-metal

https://www.facebook.com/headsforthedead/


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