Moanhand – Present Serpent
Release Date: 18th June 2021
Label: Burning Shine
Bandcamp
Genre: Slow Metal, Extreme Metal, Prog, Doom.
FFO: Tool, Spocks Beard, Opeth, My Dying Bride.
Review By: David Oberlin
There is so much music out there, of any and all genres that you can think of, that it is safe to say that the rock star is dead. But fuck me, there is a sea– no an ocean of talent out there. Swimming unawares in pools and deltas of the mainstream just waiting for a signal boost on a Bandcamp Friday. Moanhand is a multifaceted musician a.k.a Moscoan (of the Russian variety not the wee Scots toon,) Roman Filatov whose debut album Present Serpent is a slow metal masterclass in extreme not-doom metal.
Present Serpent is to extreme metal what Korns’ Life Is Peachy was to heavy metal in the ‘90’s; In effect Moanhands’ new album is like a new kind of metal, nu-black metal. There are strong passages of dark chord arrangements drowning in a body of chunky riffs. Beaten down by an angry and distorted bass sound. Yet where black metal became a competitive feat of pushing tremolo picking into a new frequency Moanhand dials it back and gives the technique a platform to assert itself again as an important motif of devilish music. Those are only some of Present Serpents strengths however.
In a unique twist of harsh tones and diabolical lyrics the softer tones of Filatovs’ beautiful, beautiful voice contrast the coarse texture of the instrumentation. Morphing the countenance of the music into a derivative of prog. These ingredients have been mixed before, and to great effect, but are often referred to as out of place and/or avant-garde. With Moanhand the style fits like a plug in a barrel. Filatovs’ clean singing is both confident and captivating, supplying a depth to the occasionally bland backing track.
What is clear from this wonderfully black slow metal affair is how impressive Filatov as a songwriter is. As he hits out on most cylinders most of the time. There are a few riffs that exist solely as filler, lacking depth and persisting only to carry the lyrics, and the excellent vocals, farther as an instrument. However, when the disharmony hits it muses like a grifter.
Present Serpent is a musically adroit piece that has long strides with only a few minor trips and stumbles, with its biggest detractor being the mastering. Where the treble is nerfed like a new hero in a Blizzard game (don’t smoke signal me.) But, the overall composition is sound and when it has its moment it eclipses all distractions.
(3 / 5)
