Pythia - The Serpent's Curse - review
Pythia - The Serpent's Curse - review
Tracklist
01. Cry Of Our Nation02. Betray My Heart
03. Kissing The Knife
04. Just A Lie
05. Dark Star
06. Long Live The King
07. The Circle
08. My Perfect Enemy
09. Heartless
10. Our Forgotten Land
A review by
Susan October 01, 2012
So, why is this The Serpent's Curse so amazing? For one thing, the singer doesn't suck! She's actually quite good. Thankfully. Emily Alice Ovenden is clearly in possession of real vocal talent, not to mention actual training, a rarity in this scene lately. She brings an even tone, attention to style, personal charisma, and vocal control to Pythia. Outside of metal she sings professionally with the successful ensembles Mediaeval Baebes and Celtic Legend.
Musically, this album is bursting at the seams with passion and energy. This is serious music but it's also damn fun and the band is enjoying every second of playing it. I know bands record one instrument at a time while in the studio, but I can't help but imagine Pythia together, all playing at once, rocking out the entire time.
There are beautiful keyboards lending intense color and texture in which you could easily be swept away, and overall most songs are quite heavy thanks to powerful guitar work. The pace is fast and the hard-hitting drums gallop onward hinting at power metal roots. In fact, the songwriting is so interesting and well composed that plenty of progressive elements can't help but slip in from time to time. Words like "bombastic" could easily describe many of these songs, but they still manage to play with a wide variety of tempos and moods, making each song individual.
No, I'm not going to list any of the famous/classic bands in this genre and say Pythia sounds like them. They just don't. It's straight up symphonic metal but somehow they managed to not copy a damn thing from anyone else. Don't you dare miss this album, which they released on CD as well as gorgeous picture vinyl. Just how cool are these guys?! I bet they're so cool they carry flasks?
Comments
Comments:
9
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 Posts: 1374 |
Posts: 1374
Hmm, sounds interesting. I may check this out sometime. Great review. 
---- Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe (Lao Tzu).
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Posts: 887
I love this album coz of many things but above all the lyrics. I felt they were smartly and very intelligently written. Thanx for the review
---- Freeze! Step away from the hubris.
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Posts: 241
The start of the album sounds so horrible then the kick-in blows you away
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Posts: 6941
I'm so glad you guys are liking this! It's easily my Symphonic Metal Album Of The Year so far. There are a few good looking ones yet to be released but Pythia stands a good chance of hanging on to the title 
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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 Posts: 18614 |
Posts: 18614
Who would have thought that after so many years after I said "goodbye" to this kind of music for good... This album comes out of nowhere and I end up liking it? Songwriting folks... That's the trick. Good review, I agree on pretty much everything. These guys have something special but I can't point out what it is... Like I said: Maybe it's just a GOOD songwriting and performance. The proggy touches here and there help a lot too. I don't love it as much as you but definitely dig it and that says a lot from me considering my opinion of this stuff. 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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Posts: 6941 Written by X-Ray Rod on 21.10.2012 at 15:04 Awesome!!! Oh wow, not what I would have expected you to say either. I just LOVE how such an excellent album of metal music can really transcend genres and reach any fan of just good music.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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Posts: 108  |
Posts: 108
I simply love this album and this band. It's the 2nd band I have to thank Metalstorm for introducing them to me after Winter in Eden. It just shows that there are still jewels to be found in the symphonic metal genre.
---- ---------------------------------------------------------- Cthulhu for President! Why settle for the lesser evil?
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| Rhiannon
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