Review Summary: Those of you that fancy old-school stuff like Omen, Manilla Road, Brocas Helm, Pentagram and Cirith Ungol should give this album a shot.
First and foremost, I would like to be perfectly honest with you.
I am acquainted with the two guitarists of “Old Serpent” all too well.
We studied at the same university for years. One of them I consider to be a close friend.
I met the bassist through our common friend, and the other two guys in festivals and concerts.
Nonetheless, honor compels me to be fairly just here. And so I shall be …
The album starts with “From the Past”. An intro track that’s about to set the stage for what’s to come.
A relaxing tune that, at the beginning, reminded me a lot of Pink Floyd and the like.
The solos at the end will prepare you for the upcoming onslaught.
And there “She Comes”. The second track of the album unfolds and from the onset one thing is certain.
The production in the second effort of “Old Serpent” dwarfs that of “Time Intact”.
“She Comes” could have easily been the first single of this release.
The opening raw cut riffs leave you speechless. The verse sticks in your mind and you feel the urge to sing along.
The first combined solo is so melodic and I enjoyed so much the various hammer-ons and pull-offs of George K.
The second solo builds up and it’s even more melodic. Then after some dry riffs the third solo develops.
This is raw and primitive in the frank sense of the words.
Then the verse comes again. First with slow chords and then with a powerful solo in the background.
A well-known recipe that always succeeds. Especially if it’s perfectly executed.
Starting with an uplifting drumming by Yiannis K. “Outcast” is a very good song.
It is probably my less favored, but I won’t call it a “filler”. I fancied a lot the solo(s) at the end.
“Violent Fall”: this is certainly one of best tracks in this album.
It starts with a mesmerizing theme that suddenly turns into a relentless riffing exercise.
After all that’s what a violent fall is supposed to be, right ? The emphatic growls of Jim K. are most impressive here.
I loved the swirling riffs and the haunting solos that add so much to this track.
One should not fail to overemphasize the excellent ground work that Nick K. and Yiannis K. provide.
The constant, and almost breathtaking, bass and drumming elevate the song to nearly unprecedented levels.
“Awakening” is the kind of song that brings back memories of the early Iron Maiden years.
A sound piece of work that with no doubt will remind you of Transylvania and Genghis Khan.
The kind of instrumentals that wet your appetite. “Final Pain” on the other hand was quite a surprise.
The aggressive riffs combine with beautiful solos to produce a solid track that can stand on its own.
“Allies Betrayed” is in my opinion the best track on this album. The intro reminded me a lot of Defender (Manowar) which is always a good thing !
The song concludes with a great solo and the track dies off with some sort of a lullaby, played with an acoustic guitar.
Or so you think … then the song starts afresh with a powerful solo that many will envy.
It is difficult to explain you and give fair justice to those feelings I felt listening to this part for the first time.
It is not easy to describe those shivers sent down my spine.
“Devil’s Island (Living in Exile)” speaks about Gyaros.
Greek scholars of history remember the hell prisoners experienced there. I will not elaborate any more than that.
The track sets out with arousing, slow riffs that are swiftly overwhelmed by the frantic screams of Jim K.
The hard bass lines and the continuous riffing and drumming engage the elegant lyrics to offer a glimpse of those nightmares poor fellows witnessed in Gyaros island.
The splintering solo by Dim K. is most culpable for my own nightmares.
The song comes to an end with yet another solo and George K. nails it again !
Just listen to it and then you will understand. Then you will know. And then you will not regret giving this album a chance.
The album culminates with another beautiful song, “… Forevermore”. That’s no “filler”. It is a wonderful theme that gently bids you farewell.
If I give ten stars out of ten to Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast and nine out ten to Eternal Champion’s Ravening Iron,
I have to give 8.5/10 to “Old Serpent” and “Occult Portraits”. This high I rate them.
Highlights: She Comes, Violent Fall, Final Pain, Devil’s Island (Living in Exile) and Allies Betrayed.
Those of you that fancy old-school stuff like Omen, Manilla Road, Brocas Helm, Pentagram and Cirith Ungol should give this album a shot.
Others that prefer newly established bands in the likes of Visigoth, Sumerlands and Eternal Champion will find in these folks “a long lost love”.
This much I can assure you.
