It’s been a week full of high-profile releases. So much so that sometimes you lose perspective of what really matters—fami, the underground releases that, with sweat and tears, are trying to give us something different in this valley of darkness we call the world. Serpent Rider might have an angry name, The Ichor of Chimaera might have Black Metal-style art, but that doesn’t mean it can’t surprise us. In fact, I’d bet this is going to punch us all in the liver unexpectedly.
There aren’t too many Metal albums out there doing what Chimaera is doing. My first comparison is to the amazing Darkest Era. It has that Heavy/Gothic Metal influence combined with Folk touches that only shine to the trained ear, which is okay because I’m sick of people trying to shove their accordions down our throats (except you, Grima, you’re perfect). So, expect that level of emotional weight and epic battle vibes, as if you’re lost in a fantasy story that’s actually well-written and not filled with clichés. The album stays mean but accessible.
There are no harsh vocals here, which is actually a bold decision given the music, but I still believe it gives the album so much personality by not sticking to conventions. The clean vocals carry the earworm dimension of the tracks, but don’t be mad if it sounds easy—you have long songs that go up and down in their riffing and exploration. In that sense, Chimaera is nothing if not entertaining, at least. You won’t feel the length of its tracks too much.
My usual complaints aren’t too harsh (sorry to disappoint you, people). If you’re into this dark, heavy style, you’ll probably just enjoy the album. However, in my case, I have a hard time recalling the most memorable moments. Perhaps the album peaks at track four, and though it doesn’t lose quality per se, I always prefer an album that peaks at the end for obvious reasons. If you open and close strong, people are much more likely to remember you—and that’s not my opinion, that’s science! Hence, I always end up feeling odd when an album doesn’t have its coolest parts close to the finish line.
And yet, most albums that attempt to sound like this fail miserably and feel bland. That’s not the case with what Serpent Rider has crafted here. There’s a lot of love for classic Doom, Folk, and Gothic Metal in this album, creating a style that’s very unique for the band. I still think some details need to be polished, but the project is young and still full of possibilities to grow. Kind of like you five years ago, before you took your ex back and ruined any possibility of a better future for the both of you. Anyway, check out this album!
Label: No Remorse Records
Release date: 28 March, 2025
Website: https://serpentrider.bandcamp.com
Country: USA
Score: 3.5/5.0 not bad for a debut!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 