A slew of modern death metal is shiny, flashy, and in
addition, purely cutthroat. Nowadays bands are experiment with their musical
style continuously with candied old-school imitators.While some sophomoric
snobs attempting to sell their flavor of the month band to potential listeners,
there are some bands that simply exist outside of pre-existing molds. Death
metal does not stagnate in a constant form. Death metal presented in various
forms. When death metal meets with Middle eastern,Egyptian mythology then the
result comes out phenomenal and always appreciated by metal music maniacs.
Ancient Egyptian mythology,history was always enigmatic,mysterious and
ambiguous from centuries and obviously difficult to trace . Pertaining their geographical position where ancient
Egypt prevailed for centuries spreading knowledge and reaching higher levels of
progression.In this difficult,complex musical style some challengers exist.
I believe that the fascination over ancient Egypt will never
end and for a good reason.In before who ever checked out my article regarding
Egyptian mythology based band every time I had mentioned that always Egyptian
,Mesopotamian mythology concept based
article ,image , band whatever easily attracted me because of their epic
history,magnificent theme,culture . It's been six years since the Cairo based
Egyptian death metal sextet scarab last put out an album.Well, after a long
time since the recording of their last sonic assailment oriental death metal
troupe Scarab revealed their sophomore full length album entitled “Serpents Of
The Nile” on 6th March,2015 via ViciSolum Productions.Their latest studio
effort consist with eight tracks with approximate 55:41 minute running time.At
first let me introduce Scarab with you all.Basically Scarab was formed in 2006.
Sprouting from the band “Hatesuffocation” which had roots running since 2001
until 2006 with 2 self-released EPs. In before Scarab released one EP entitled
“Valley of the Sandwalkers” in 2007 and their debut full length album entitled
“Blinding the Masses” in 2009.
It’s really difficult to separate a band, their story, their
legacy and their music from each other to glean some truth about the piece you
presently get to witness. Scarab have triumphed musically to attain their own
particular style,religious history and sound without sounding niche or
trite.Death Metal colliding with Middle Eastern,Mesopotamian or otherwise
unconventional influences enjoys indeed tend quite rare.Scarab able to gain proper attention in this
complex,unrelenting, disparate musical style.Scarab is a well established group
of bands who can make a fully sound and creative and with a lot of excellence
in his lyrics,with well crafted,distinct content . Already Nile,Coffin
Texts,Melechesh, Maat,Crescent are undisputed kings of Middle eastern
influenced musical style.Scarab deliver a very unique kind of death metal
combining brutal,technical,melodic and
atmospheric musical style with Egyptian,Arabic folk elements.Their musical level
of complexity, technicality and obscurity
is fantastic.
At a first listen of “Serpents Of The Nile” I was astounded
and grab my attention.After a multiple listen their latest studio effort
possessed me with their extreme,chromatic,multi-layered, powerful,blasting
death metal musical style with technical riffs work , paradigm shift and
melodic,folk vibe with sporadic middle eastern tunes , dark, sensual and
mystical soundscapes and obviously their distinguishing musical composition
,grandiose concept just blew me away
.Sammy Sayed and his cohorts exudes tremendous effort in radiant way on this
album with excellent diligence and nailed it .I really appreciate each and
every single musicians unsurpassed ability,efficiency and skill. This new album
is triumphant rich death metal. This whole album reflects the grand diversity
of sound brought together on this album . Their incredibly sensitive,slightly
sandy,dusty antique and disparate musical styles all combined in one bold,
enlightened display of unbound creativity Despite the often fast ,furious,cacophonous,
heavy and extreme form of death metal assaults
with a lots of segments of
brutal,technical,melodic segments,tasteful Middle eastern,Arabic musical
style involvement and without sacrificing the atmospheric aspect enhanced this
new albums unique flavor and enriched this album that is very powerful,heavy
and excellent all at the same time along with a good balance
of technical death metal music,Middle Eastern music,melody and brutality
with strangulated ,intricate riffs work and those effective rasps,harsh vocals
simultaneously . Their music is both dark and ecstatic. I highly appreciate and
applaud and cite this album because of their distinct style .This album
contains with a strong dose of creative,memorable death metal with a trace of a
modern taste,relentless rhythmic,technical,brutal and melodic that is simply
outstanding.
well, their latest opus starts with a ominous,oriental track
with magical thoughts and whispering around the tones.This albums quasi opener
“Visions of a Blood River” starts with a heavy,powerful,bestial grunt followed
by intricate,fast,delicate riffs work,blast beating,fast soundscapes with
onslaught of savage guitar and a wall of spectacular,relentless drums . Their whole composition and musical style
is impeccable. From this new album we get fast, oppressive,oriental death metal
finest variety with just make enough melody . This album is filled with a slew
of twisted , traversed ,chugging, groovy,intricate,apocalyptic,crushing riffs
line ups with technical prowess . As well bass line up is shifting, chaotic,
deeper,roving and bludgeoning. Drumming,percussion line up is
thundering,dodgy,punishing,frantic,blast beating and rabidly insane . There are a slew of
individual riffs,solo sections which sound briefly something exotic . In each
track intricate,spectacular riffs,bass
lineups matched in fantastic way with technical orientation . This album
indulge strong songwriting,grandiose concept and brilliant musicianship . Tempo
changes are excellent and complicated . Vocals harsh,snarling growls,deep
rasps, aggressive, vigorous, crucial voice woven in a good manner with their
utterly savage,merciless,onslaught, primal organic ,violent,uncanny death metal
sound with a lots of technical prowess, brutal,melodic segments,Middle Eastern
musical accompaniment and embedded
perfectly .
I really worship this band . Each song have an energy
,fluency and dominating power . Stand out tracks are all of em. Album artwork
is atrocious,indelible. Album artwork showcased the flavor of Egyptian
mythology . Overall “Serpents Of The
Nile” whole album Sound extremely promising,prestigious, blistering , extremely
lush ,ambitious, menacing, conceptual in all the right ways . Indeed this album
is such an true gem of this year and this album will give you unyielding
awesomeness from beginning to the end .
Their potential on this new album is appreciable . “Serpents Of The Nile”so presented as
unshakable strong slabs of Egyptian mythology based death metal .This is
aesthetics of death metal . This album have a fantastic sense of exoticism
without any sacrifice in intensity and will take you on a journey where myth,
religion, mystery, the desert and the Egyptian bright night meet. outstanding
another one release of this year so far . This is strongly recommend to add it
in your collection.Scarab able to cultivate Middle eastern music with death
metal properly and garnished,presented this whole album as a masterpiece.Yet
the subtle touches of Middle Eastern,Arabic musical style inspired flair and
groove are enough to distinguish the band from the extreme metal pace, and
their sophomore album demonstrates it perfectly.
My Rating : 4.6/5. Review done by – Souvik Basu
