Eagle Twin

The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale

Website:	Label Profile
Label:	Southern Lord
Writer:	Darkwülf

"We have tasted the trees, these trees are burning with knowledge unkind”

In this all-out sonic barrage, the crows from 'The Unkindness Of Crows' (ET's 2009 debut LP) have battled the sun and are burned back down to earth as black snakes. The concept of the album continues to centre mainly on the snake and its various mythic and symbolic incarnations. Ultimately, the great ancestral snake is transformed from its lowly beginnings back into a bird soaring upon the thermals. Guitarist Gentry Densley (ex-Iceburn) and drummer Tyler Smith (ex-Form Of Rocket) once again recorded 'The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale' with Randall Dunn at London Bridge Studio. At just under an hour long, this album is even more humongous in sound than the first chapter.

As a concept album with a definite thread of sound it seems ridiculous to highlight individual tracks. 'The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale' demands an entire listen with every play of the album. Opening two tracks 'Job Cain 1 & 2' are solid, with enough seismic riffs to start an avalanche that devours the universe. Gentry's vocals are a low, chanting growl that is utterly mesmerising. Does he have the best voice in metal? Over the course of the album we are treated to master-class in valve amp punishment and skin pounding.

Even the low-key numbers like 'Horn Snake Horn' possess enough dread and volume to frighten the most hardened psycho mosher. Producer Randall Dunn manages to harness the intense low end bass waves, while bringing Tyler Smith's drums to life to perfectly guide the nightmarish riffs along beneath the haunting vocals of Densley. On first listen it punched me in the balls and reminded me, along with Xibalba's new record, just how much impressive new music is around right now, particulary LOUD, MERCILESS music.

“Then he realised that God spoke Crow.”