Old Serpent – ‘Occult Portraits’: An album full of mystery.
We listened to the second album by Old Serpent, titled ‘Occult Portraits’. The heavy metal band offers us a dynamic album full of beautiful melodies. ‘Occult Portraits’ has been with us for a while now (specifically since 2020).
By Dimitris (Bari) Polyzois
With this, Old Serpent make a dynamic statement on the ramparts of the heavy metal scene. This second album by the Athenian band bursts with beautiful melodies and brings to mind old, old school metal!
The Oldest Serpent
Serpent are a band formed in 2014 in Athens. Their current line up consists of Jim Kostakis on vocals, Jim Karampinis on one guitar, George Katsionis on the second guitar, Nick Kotronoulas on bass and John Katsionis on drums.
With a Biblical name and music that has the power to move mountains(!), the ‘Occult Portraits’ comes to round out the guys' body of work. At the same time, it offers all of us who love metal an album that takes us back…
Old school foundations that take us on a journey
The style of Old Serpent could be compared to the classic metal of the 80s – 90s. It has something that strongly evokes that era. Listening to it, I can almost picture myself wearing my ripped jeans, a sleeveless black shirt with the Kill ‘Em All logo, and a leather jacket. Long hair goes without saying, of course (before it left our heads once and for all!).
However, I need to clarify something… When I say classic, I don't mean old or outdated. The production is spot on and puts every instrument right where it should be (though we'll get into the sound in the next section). As an overall picture, the most accurate way to see it would be as metal based on that era, but without the drawbacks that existed back then.
On the music
The basic elements that characterize the music of Old Serpent are the powerful guitars and the intense beats on the drums. Starting with the latter, I can pick out elements of power metal and thrash. We notice that the drums shift throughout each track. From more straightforward beats to faster rhythms. But they always keep high intensity and dynamics. The guitars, on the other hand, drive the tracks with a variety of riffs. The shifts are very reminiscent of those in Maiden's tracks, maybe a bit slower in speed. The bass keeps an important role, offering a solid foundation to the tracks, without stepping into the spotlight except in a few cases.
As for the vocals, they hold a very distinctive tone, which leans somewhat towards death metal. Through this lens, they seem to have the same intensity and levels as the rest of the instruments, forming one piece of the overall sound. The production of the record (carried out by Κώστα Σαββίδη at Dope of Sound Studios) is very clean. The listener can hear every detail from every instrument. And exactly because there are so many details, every time you listen to the record you'll discover a new facet of it.
If I wanted something different sound-wise, it would be to have the vocals sit in a more distinct position within the tracks. They seem to be at the same level as the guitar riffs. But because these riffs are complex and intense, they steal the spotlight, giving the vocals a secondary role in certain parts of the tracks.
Editor's Choice: ‘Allies Betrayed’
Many tracks from the ‘Occult Portraits' could have caught my attention. What stood out for me from the very first listen, though, is 'Allies Betrayed'. It's a track that starts off slow and intense, but it doesn't take long to make a big shift in speed and rhythm. It combines elements I personally love in a song, like powerful guitars, melodic riffs and lots of twists and turns. This one's a track that will surprise you and make you play it over and over before moving on to the next one. Personally, I ended up with the main riff stuck on repeat in my head!
In conclusion
The Old Serpent offer us a full album. The ‘Occult Portraits’ is capable of taking you on a trip back to the good old legendary days of heavy metal. Packed with melodies that will get stuck in your head, they're hoping to earn a spot in your record collection, and in my opinion, they pull it off. If their live performances are as powerful as their music, then I can't wait to hear them on stage. Beyond that, after listening to ‘Occult Portraits’, another sweet wait washes over me: the one for their next album, which I hope to have in my hands soon!
