Weverin

Serpent Light

Self Financed 2008

Philosophical Satanism and black metal traditionalism arises from the populated morass of New York.  On Weverin's third full length album, Serpent Light, moody, bleak atmospheres spread like a corrupting fog.  The Ones Crucified Among The Lair opens with a fuzzy and shrill guitar before blasting riffs fall like icy hail upon the listener.  Master!!! begins with death metal rhythms which soon explode into freezing riffs.  However the title track opens with some more dreamlike guitar work that is atmospherically and emotionally similar to Enslaved despite being somewhat different musically.  These soft notes are quickly overtaken by arcing riffs that streak heavenward like ascending spirits in the night sky.  Ambient coldness sets a somber mood on Charred in Sorcery and Skinless Ink as deep, grim vocals are set against a backdrop of minimalist sounds until the violent bursts of white noise at the song's climax.  More dreamlike mysticism is created by the fuzzed-out guitars, slowly whirling in a spectral dance to summon a mystical and ritualistic mood as The Labyrinth Becoming Creation plods ever forward.  The track finally gains momentum marked by a fiery guitar solo and then a militant set of drum patterns that ratchet up the tension like a typhoon.  Buer's vocals straddle the line between blackness and death metal gruffness.  I think the drum production could use some thinning out as they can be overpowering at times and are a bit too "punchy."  Weverin blends atmospheric black metal riffs with more traditional harsher notes and the occasional death metal rhythms to conjure visions that are both demonic and chilling.  Nothing too groundbreaking but still enjoyable for what it is.