Serpent Saints
Leather Lucifer

April 2009
Released: 2008, Stormspell Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Luxi Lahtinen

More leather, metal and spikes. The Danish metal commandos Serpent Saints have started their world conquering that actually started 2 years ago already by a free promotional-CD that they more or less actively circulated around the globe.



Now that particular promotional-CD in question has been released in mini-LP format by EmanesMetal Records from France – as well as Stormspell Records from the States as a mini-CD, with one bonus track (“Incinerate Them”). Based on the image how they look like, they aren´t that far removed from the same visual image as the German power/heavy metal troops Powerful - with make-up, tons of leather and spikes, yet their music has some certain connections to Powerful´s stuff as well, having less stress on the words ´power metal´ though.



Serpent Saints, in fact, play kinda traditional, straightforward heavy metal that has a lot to do with some traditional values of heavy metal in general. I would say there´s a fair injection of Maiden, Angel Witch and early Mercyful Fate in Serpent Saints´ songs - and let´s put even legendary Danish quartet Evil´s name to the same pile. When listening to “Devil´s Night”, you can tell right away that the band has really done well their homework with Maiden´s couple of 1st albums, no doubts. Also, this creepy yet very haunting atmosphere behind the title track of the EP, “Leather Lucifer” – starting from the 2:20 mark, makes me think of Mercyful Fate. This track is becoming my very favorite song off the EP little by little, I can tell.



The production on this release isn´t that great though. Actually it sounds like a demo production, but since the band´s nicely flowing, up-tempo metal that really manages to throw its listeners a couple of decades back in time, it really makes it all up for this minor complaint on this really good sounding mini-CD.



Ok, now when my hunger for Serpent Saints´ stuff has finally been awakened with this little 5-track teaser, I really need to hear more. A full-length album coming up next, but when?