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Dragon Lord

    
       
       
       
     
             
Serpents Kiss are a heavy metal band from the UK formed in 1995 by two veterans of the NWOBHM scene, guitarist Will Philpot and bass player Wayne Russell. The band released a couple of demos before their self titled debut album emerged in 2005. Now with a new singer, Nikki Wozzo, Serpents Kiss unleashed their second album 'Dragon Lord' in 2018. The band are completed by drummer Mike "The Machine" Mallais.    
             
An atmospheric short crescendo of an opening gets the new album from Serpents Kiss underway in blistering "foot on the monitor" style heavy metal. Galloping at pace 'Gods Awaken/Black Wizard' is in your face traditional heavy metal. Heads will be banging hard as 'Gods Awaken/Black Wizard' storms on at pace. The delights of British heavy metal will never die, and will live on forever with the likes of Serpents Kiss delivering the goods... 'Innocence' is all mellow and acoustic as it creeps into life, becoming a thundering, shuddering and pulsating romp of savage heavy metal, hitting hard and kicking even harder. Blunt and brash, 'Innocence' is a heavy version of the combined sounds of UK metallers Saxon and Iron Maiden... "let's ride home!!" The title song 'Dragon Lord' clocks in at over eight minutes in length, and is an anthemic epic of foot stamping, fist in the air heavy metal. A meandering melodic masterpiece, take a back seat Iron Maiden, Serpents Kiss can deliver the longer epic songs too.    
             
At less than half the length of the previous song, 'Slaves Of The Light' is a kick ass romp of galloping heavy metal with a massive melodic edge that makes it catchy and infectious. Add a chilling, almost haunting vibe and 'Slaves Of The Light' is gonna send a chill down the spines of many. Taking on the role of a heavy rock song with a buzz sounding guitar riff synonymous with the NWOBHM, 'Sabbatha' is a monstrous romp of devastating power. Stand in its way and you will be savagely trampled, you have been warned!    
             
Picking up the intensity and energy levels, Serpents Kiss turn up the heat with the thundering 'Take The King'. A pulsating rhythm pushes 'Take The King' along at a high pace and everything about this song echoes the iconic NWOBHM sound. 'Dragon Lord' is by no means a retro album, it is a modern day release, with winks and nods back to a glorious era for British heavy metal. 'Witches Embers' opens with an eerie effects laden intro, all scary growls, presumably from a witch, and a witch hunt chant of "burn the witch"... As for the song itself, very heavy mid tempo heavy metal that will have feet stamping hard. Bringing the album to a close is the nine minutes plus epic 'Winters Eve', an anthemic and meandering journey through varying styles of rock and metal. Serpents Kiss have delivered ten songs across a pulsating fifty minutes play time, with every minute worth your listening time...more than just the once too!    
             
Overall, galloping heavy metal from a British band, delivering the traditional and classic sound of the NWOBHM.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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