In continuing on with catching up with some of 2015’s highest profile releases, British melodic rockers Serpentine returned some months ago with their third album and first to feature new vocalist Adam Payne.
Payne’s a terrific find – his voice is perfectly suited to Serpentine’s musical adjustment for this album. Payne has a deeper, more natural voice for the style of music, which is now heavily under the influence of enlisted producer and co-writer for this album – Ten’s Gary Hughes.
Hughes’ influence is evident from the get go.
Serpentine have always been classic British melodic rock, but now they have a strong connection to the popular sound Ten had in their early days as well as the Hughes produced and written Bob Catley solo albums.
In the vein of the much loved Ten debut, Serpentine have delivered a 10 track monster of a record. There’s 50 minutes of inspired guitar/keyboard driven AOR here, infused with that uptempo moody Ten sound.
Season of the Witch rocks harder than the band has done to date; while La Tragedienne moves as quickly as the swathe of keyboards directs, along with a great chorus; the hard edged, but the moody Forever is a 6 minute epic that is straight out of Bob Catley’s The Tower.
The Hardest Fall features one of the best choruses as it moves swiftly, delivering some brilliant British AOR bathed in keyboards and a strong guitar lead; Bleed is another ultra-moody track I could hear Gary Hughes singing; and Where Does Your Heart Beat Now is a cool more laid back track.
The faster and more urgent Bound By The Strings of Discord sees the band fired up and rocking, with Payne delivering a particularly good vocal; the 6 minute Circle Of Knives is another track that is pure Gary Hughes and again doesn’t forget to deliver a good chorus.
Such A Long Way Down builds vocal intensity throughout the song to good effect and the last track Suicide Days closes out a very consistent and enjoyable record.
If there was an album I’d recommend fans of Gary Hughes purchase, it would be this hands down. Classic Ten and the best of the first two Serpentine records combine to take the band in a brand new direction.
If you haven’t checked this out and the description appeals, then do so as a matter of importance!
