HOD - 'Serpent'

A morbid atmosphere and low-fi production benefit the dark undertones of HOD’s debut album.

Blackened death metal is Texas quintet HOD’s specialty on their debut album Serpent. A wild ride from beginning to end, Serpent is a throwback to the early days of black metal, not only in attitude, but in sound. The dry production only enhances the listening experience, giving off a cold, harsh atmosphere. The seven tracks that comprise Serpent are full of rich imagery, with a strong evil presence dripping through every inch of the album.

Serpent is comprised of tracks from HOD’s 2007 demo Cry And Piss Yourself, along with new material. The vocals are raspy and deep, yet easily distinguishable and understandable. The songs are mostly around the four-minute mark, with the exception of a few longer numbers. HOD maintains a frantic pace through the shorter tracks. This is due in part to the rhythm work of drummer Dennis Sanders. His blastbeats and unconventional fills make for quite an impressive performance. However, the drum work tends to overshadow the rest of the band.

“Victims,” “Nine Days,” and “God Of Darkness And Winter” showcase HOD’s progressive side, with slower melodies and a spotlight placed on the understated guitar work. These tracks are more adventurous excursions in songwriting for HOD. The band is able to keep the songs interesting and dynamic, even as the running length goes over the six-minute mark.

Serpent is a strong debut album that has elements of American death metal, ala Obituary, and Norwegian black metal, ala Darkthrone. The lyrics are dark and haunting, while the musicianship is solid, save for some sloppy and loose playing on “Ritual Of Vengeance.” Serpent is an apt title for HOD’s first album, as the music is guaranteed to slither its rancorous message into the listener’s mind almost instantly.