Saturday 9th February saw the release of Cookstown band Serpent’s debut E.P. Fear, while Sunday 10th saw the dawning
of the ‘Year of the Snake’. Surely it’s some type of sign? Playing alongside Zia Regime and Katabolisis at their E.P release, Limelight 2 was sure to be rocked to the core right through to the Chinese new year.
Barely a year old, and with a few line-up changes along the way, Cookstown lads Serpent are now made up of:
Oran McGuckin – Bass/Lead Vocals,
Connla Mullan – Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Charlie Farrell – Drums,
Graham McKinstry – Lead Guitar.
A line-up which seems solid after a period of uncertainty.
For such a young band, Fear is a musical triumph. Consisting of four unstoppable thrash metal tracks, Myriad Truths, Fear, Evenomation and Parasite’s Eve – this E.P. is sure to have something for everyone. The first song, Myriad Truths has definite nods to Megadeth and begins with some tearing riffs, thumping drums and deep, dark vocals. While the eponymous Fear itself starts off slow and somber, and then makes way for a fast paced assault of wailing guitar and pounding drums, cont
rasted with slower, almost funereal vocals.
Next up is Evenomation, a solid, quite dense track that is broken up by some nice guitar work towards the end. Finally, Parasite’s Eve finishes up Fear quite nicely – another fast paced assault of drums with a dark brooding change of pace half way through. Parasite’s Eve finishes up being an extremely atmospheric track, and the perfect way to end this diverse E.P.
Overall, Fear is a good effort from such a young band – their music is solid and I look forward to hearing more experimental and experienced tracks in the coming years.
Check out their Facebook here.
