Sermon – Of Golden Verse

Sermon – Of Golden Verse
Release Date: 31st March 2023
Label: Prosthetic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Metal, Alternative Metal, Doom, Atmospheric Rock.
FFO: Disillusion, Darkest Era, Mother of Millions, Wilderun.
Review By: Mark Young

I’m starting this one slightly different in that I’m going straight out with I absolutely loved this, and it’s gone onto my prospective album of the year list. 2023 has seen some amazing releases so far and to think that we are nearly in April and gems like this are still coming, which have their own sound and identity. I’m hoping that by saying that I haven’t just put a curse on the rest of the year.

Some context on Sermon. They dropped their first album in 2019, played one live show and then vanished. As with everyone, Covid, lockdowns, world strife came along, potentially making this absence longer until their return. There is a central creative brain with Sermon (known only as HIM) who felt it was time to return with a new music. 

Checking their bio and online sources they are termed progressive metal which potentially conjures up all sorts in your mind but let’s get something straight: They do not let technical ability overwhelm the songs here. No two are the same, it’s just uplifting and refreshing to hear someone do clean singing where it isn’t processed or jarring and absolutely works against the music. 

From Royal, with its thrashy riffing, to Light The Witch that is hook-laden, to In Black which conjures up Soundgarden and psychedelic vocals before coming back to an almost classic rock delivery, none are the same. Similarly, with Senescence, which has a piano and an almost military drum pattern to start before adopting an urgent, heavy path. The final three of Wake The Silent, Golden and Departure just bombard with holy riffing, trem picking and blast beats. Each of them are just excellent examples of how to do progressive metal.

Each track is just so huge and take in so many musical paths from thrash to psych to doom back to almost classic rock, there is not one label you can pin on them. If pressed for my favourite track, which is difficult, I went for Departure which just flies, I mean it’s a stone-cold classic and sets a high bar for how you finish an album off. 

When you consider that this is only album 2 you can only wonder at what comes next from them. What I do hope is that they get this out on stage and hammer us live because that is where these songs must be heard. This is something that should be played at volume, because it’s smart in its attack, it is just class in how each song is arranged and there is so much going on it will become a richer experience every time you press play. 

Have I told you about the drumming? It is some next level shit that somehow is jaw-dropping without taking over (James Stewart, take a bow). Everything about Of Golden Verse is top level, all it needs is an audience, and that is where you come in. Just love it, absolutely love it.

1. The Great Marsh 
2. Royal 
3. Light The Witch
4. In Black 
5. The Distance 
6. Wake The Silent 
7. Golden 
8. Centre 
9. Departure

(5 / 5)