this is an album that grows on you. I loved it from the moment it touched my eardrums. But there were some small obstacles on the way that needed to be analysed. Since I am a voice freak, this is a very essential part of the recipe and even if the lightness of Rickett´s voice would not be my first choice for a traditional heavy doom metal sound, I would, after listening, never ever replace him or find anyone that I felt more suitable for Serpent Venom. I find it instead to be that particular ingredient that makes the band stand out. Some have compared Serpent Venom to the UK band Warning. I concur, but add that Serpent Venom is more up-tempo, but definitely the same kind of heavy-hearted bat cave kind of depressed dark doom metal as Warning is preaching. The record label describes the making of the album as "marks a song writing approach that came straight out of the jam room and involved the whole band" and that is the way I expect music to be made. There is a heaviness to the sound that can be best described as 1 cup of Electric Wizard, 1 cup of Black Sabbath, 1 cup of Pentagram. Mix it up and put in the oven and you will have the best doom cake ever. Much possibly after working under the influence of Chris Fielding that produced the album, and also worked with Electric Wizard, Conan and many other well-known UK bands in the genre. Lots of lovely Black Sabbath vibes, Electric Wizard sounds, Pentagram-Vitus riffs, but also a distinct temperature all its own. Brilliant. It is also heavy like a brick, just the way we want it served.