The sound of Heavy Metal has consistently adapted since its start in the late ’60s, crossing genres with any and every possible sound available. However, when the genre is brought up in conversation, the sound that comes to mind is galloping guitar, death-infused vocals, battle hymns of cascading drums, and some killer hairstyles with leather vests.
This retro style is what the band Nite is producing with their newest album, Cult of the Serpent Sun. Released on March 14, 2025, through Season of Mist, upon first listen, the inspiration for classical Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Manowar is obvious, proof that the band has done its homework to produce a sound that rivals the legends of the genre.
A good description of the band’s sound could be the term Technical Metal. Although the band is not in the same area as Prog Metal, there is an emphasis on the individual instruments over the entire song. It is obvious that the gripping guitar skills exhibited by Van Labrakis and Scott Hoffman are built from love and dedication to the craft. Technical Metal will always have a place in the music industry; fans of the extreme sound can value the skills and dexterity required to create professional caliber music, and Nite is a good example of this. Drummer Patrick Crawford does wonders, too, introducing interesting drum patterns and varied use of the cymbals throughout the tracklist.
For their third album, Nite has chosen to double down and refine the sound they built on their sophomore release. Sticking with those dreary skeleton man Labrakis vocals and powerful quest-like guitar riffs for another round of cultish noise. It is good to see the band finding its flag and sticking by it; it means that the sound it is producing is more than just a lucky result of experimentation. Refinement and revision have led the band to produce a new album that feels similar yet more energetic and darker than their previous releases. Fully realizing the power fantasy that Nite can be
That being said, the title feels like it was not fully capitalized on. The serpent sun cult originated in ancient Mayan civilization. A power-hungry sect of the civilization that was filled with violent diplomats, this image is not exactly what Nite has created for their third album. Opting instead to indulge in some conventional imagery for the album cover and going only surface-level lyrically. Cult of the Serpent Sun is more of a superficial badass moniker than anything else. Some connections to Latin American music or storytelling would have brought the album above and beyond, but title aside, it is still a powerful release for the band, who have now produced three studio albums. The previous albums, 2020’s Darkness Silence Mirror Flame and 2002’s Voices of the Kronian Moon shine a good amount of light on the sort of mindset that resulted in the names Nite and Cult of The Serpent Sun.
With all of this in mind, the best song on Cult of the Serpent Sun is “Crow (Fear the Night).” The repetitive vocals are not as numbing in this track, and the guitar goes wild the entire time. The full-throttle sound that this album is attempting to sell is densely concentrated on this track. Although the drums get lost at times here, it is for good reason that they play a subtle part in the track to allow the guitar to become the star. Emotions of anger, yearning, and anguish are the best way to describe the hellish melody that fills this track.
Although some might argue Cult of the Serpent Sun lacks lyricism, “Mystic” does the best job using the gravelly voice of lead singer Labrakis. Taking a narrator role, the song immerses the listener into the dark world that the album is meant to inhabit, allowing the mystic of the landscape to describe what is happening over slower, more emphasized chords. The drums do a great job of building tension with their heavy crashes on every other beat, smoothing out the relation between the dead voice and cinematic guitar.
An honorable mention should go to “Tarmut” for having a great guitar solo and some interesting lyrics to end it off. However, Cult of the Serpent Sun should be listened to in its entirety multiple times, especially with a speedy 36-minute run time. Considering this, “Tarmut” is a track that is guaranteed to get better the more it is heard; appreciation for the changes in pace throughout the song develops quickly. The track feels like a standalone or at least a pre-release single with its slow-building intro and exalted guitars. While the rest of the album has a crusader-esque vibe to it, this one is completely evil.
Altogether, Cult of the Serpent Sun is a strong and retro-sounding release from a band that is just getting its chops. The seasoned members behind Nite know what they are doing musically. If they can translate that into lyrics with a little more behind them and complex storytelling, they could create a revival of the sound that feels like it was laid to rest in the 1980s. That is why CrypticRock gives Cult of the Serpent Sun 3.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment