Five Serpent's Teeth

If any or all of the above statements excites you in the pants then let me introduce you to your new wet dream for the next few months. What we have here is a modern Metal band with a helluva lot of talent utilizing influences from (in my opinion) the two greatest Thrash bands to make music Metallica and Slayer. On earlier albums we found vocalist Matt Drake favoring the raspy yells of Slayers front man well over the last couple albums this has slowly evolved more towards Metallica style and now we hear a welcomed more melodic tone like that of Hetfield.

Like the 80's thrash groups Five Serpant's Teeth is powered by chugging riffs and more importantly memorable solo's. The solo's range from flamboyant Metallica-esque screamers "Origin Of Oblivion" to chaotic Slayer style shred fest's "In Dreams Of Terror" and everything in between. Ol Drake is easily my favorite guitarist to date and I assure you he will become one of yours as well, the man could have given the greats of thrash a run for their money.

All in all Their is not a single track on this album that I can say I didn't enjoy. Even the albums ballad "In Memoriam" kept my interest with the superb guitar playing. I recommend this album TO ALL FANS OF METAL, even the fans that steer away from the Extreme side of metal can, may and probably will enjoy this. Simply put, this friends is great song writing. This is how you truly show your influences while standing on your own feet. A must own and best of 2011. Please support a supporter of Metal and click 'Yes' below. Thank you for reading.

I was very excited when I picked up Evile's last release "Infected Nations." I thought that album sounded a lot like "...And Justice for All" Metallica. For me this was a good thing because I feel like the current thrash scene is overloaded with subpar bands that sound like the don't take their music seriousle. The classic thrash bands, Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Testament, Megadeth, etc. had more than their share of fun, but their music was serious, in composition if not lyrics. Evile is one of the very few new wave thrash bands that seems to take their music seriously. Some people will argue that sounding like another band is a bad thing, but everybody is influenced by someone, and Evile has been influenced by one of the best. I titled my review "Even Better," and "Five Serpent's Teeth" is just that. Where most of the songs on the last album sounded like "...And Justice for All" Metallica, "Five Serpent's Teeth" is more varied. Present still is the "Justice" influence, but there are much faster parts remniscent of "Puppets" era Metallica and classic Slayer. Also present on "Five Serpent's Teeth" is an'Unforgive' by Metallica influence. Yes, there is still a heavy Metallica influence, but since Metallica stopped sounding like Metallica some time in the late 90s, I'm glad there's someone to carry the classic Metallica banner. I am extremely hopeful that Evile will continue to make the music that they are making, regardless of the fact that some people will call them Metalliclones. They are making quality metal and in the current thrash scene, they are a breath of fresh air.

As most know by now Evile have not really been around that long, but long enough to make a small but good impact on the metal community. With the release of their first album Enter The Grave they had the fast and furious metal mosh pit song Thrasher which shot them up to one of the number one new Thrash acts of 2007. Unfortunately after the second album, Infected Nations which came around to some stellar reviews they lost their long time bass player (Mike Alexander), who died from a clot on his lung. Now with the release of Five Serpents Teeth Evile are back and more fierce than ever. With the first song, and title track you know your in for a treat with it's Blackened type guitar intro, which then goes off into a brutal thrash assault of super speed double picking and technical drumming. And the album rarely lets up. Most thrash albums today you really couldn't call thrash but with Evile, they define the meaning of the word. In Dreams Of Terror shows off the speed picking ability of the Drake brothers, and also just how great of a singer Matt Drake has become sing the first release. More so than James Hetfield he really sounds a lot like a low toned Devin Townsend(without the screaming). And compliments him well. Cult is an instant classic that fans of "The Black Album" will surely love because of it's very groove laden rhythm section, and growling vocals. So not to "spoil" the album i won't really get into details of all the songs on the album but let you listen for yourself. There is not a bad track on the album and about 90% of it is fast, a sure fire seller to each and every thrash fan young and old. In Memoriam is a great tribute to Mike Alexander, and has a lot of feel and emotion to it. That would be about the only song where Matt Drake sounds like Hetfield, at all. But when you listen to this album you'll probably forget all about Metallica, because there day is done.

Does this album sound like Puppets, Lightning, and Justice? No, it sounds better, and far more technical. So don't listen to the folks or reviewers who call Evile a Metallica clone, for its just not true. Elements of them? Yes, but keep in mind they started off as a Metallica cover band. Also the first album was actually produced by Flemming Rasmussen, the man behind the mix of 3 of Metallica's masterpiece 80's albums. What band can say they had that opportunity? Evile, and they definitely deserve it. Listen and start a most pit in your living room, after hearing this you'll be tossed around like it's 1986! With bludgeoning riffs, in your face drumming and vocals, this album will be your favorite of the year, if not more. Enjoy.