Sinistral King is a new formation that only began to take shape in 2018, but its members are not newcomers to the dark musical arts of death and black metal which form the backbone of this new band’s music, because Sinistral King‘s line-up features members of Unlight (Germany), Triumph of Death (Swizterland), and Vredehammer (Norway). But while each of the members brought their own experiences and influences to this new endeavor, they have not been confined by them, but have also integrated other stylistic ingredients into their songwriting and execution, which is richly displayed on their debut album, Serpent Uncoiling.
This new record consists of five significant tracks, each of which creates dramatic contrasts yet also draws all the differing movements together in unifying ways that manifest pitch-black occult darkness. Their success in doing so is vividly displayed by the album’s title track, which we’re premiering today in advance of the album’s release by Vendetta Records on April 24th.
“Serpent Uncoiling” (the song) is a study in dynamics and changing moods. Through the use of classical orchestration and choral voices, as well as more ethereal interludes, it creates a range of gripping atmospheric experiences, but the song also explodes in bursts of full-throttle ferocity. It creates visions of frightening grandeur but also sends the listener’s pulse into overdrive. It juxtaposes passages that in their volume and pacing are starkly different from each other. Yet all these dramatically varying and persistently surprising changes are unified by an overarching sense of supernatural visions and unearthly powers ascendant.
In the intro the band quickly create an atmosphere of gloom and foreboding but then suddenly erupt in a fierce surge of battering drums and jabbing and flaring riffs. The use of synths continues to generate sensations of dread and frightening eminence as the vocalist vents savage growls, but that building sense of ominous peril spills over into a flurry of crashing drums, vicious shrieks, frenzied riffing, and soaring keyboards. This onslaught channels tumult and catastrophe, but the band follow it with a soft passage of glistening keyboards, deep ominous chords, and poisonous whispers, creating an aura of mystery and menace.
The storming which follows that interlude is extravagant, combining massive and momentous chords with lightning-fast and deliriously unchained soloing. The music soars in orchestral grandeur, as do the voices of a reverent yet fervent celestial choir, but the band also continue to jolt and jab and to chant with growled vehemence. The song seems to fade out into silence… but resumes… with a somber piano melody that proves to be the song’s haunting finale.
To repeat, this ravishing new album will be released by Vendetta Records on April 24th, and it will be made available on LP, CD, and Digital formats. Check the links below for more info.
PRE-ORDER:
https://vendettarecords.bigcartel.com/
https://sinistralking.bandcamp.com
SINISTRAL KING:
https://www.facebook.com/sinistralking
https://www.sinistral-king.com/
TRACK LIST:
1. Serpent Uncoiling
2. Nahemoth
3. Isheth Zenunim
4. Fields Of Necromance
5. Where Nothingness Precedes Cosmos