Evile
Five Serpent's Teeth

Third album recorded by Evile, "Five Serpent’s Teeth" aims to win back any fans lost with the previous flop "Infected Nations." I must admit I was a bit pessimistic about the outcome of this work, but the first two tracks immediately brought a smile back to my face. The title track and "In Dreams Of Terror" exude great energy, both for the once again excellent instrumental part and for Matt Drake's grit, which has returned to its former levels. The pace remains high with the following tracks, "Cult" and "Eternal Empire." However, there is a slowdown, a residue of the previous album, with "Xaraya" and "Centurion," interspersed by the furious "Origin Of Oblivion."

The album's peak, perhaps, comes with the eighth track, "In Memoriam," a fitting tribute to the tragic passing of bassist Mike Alexander (replaced by Joel Graham), who was just over 30, due to an illness during a tour. This ballad in the style of "Nothing Else Matters" is a true masterpiece, and we are given the opportunity to hear Matt's voice when he's not screaming (which happens quite rarely). Oh, his vocal tone may not be perfectly clean but it fits perfectly. After the melancholic yet moving moment, the album closes beautifully with "Descent Into Madness" and "Long Live New Flesh," which remain enjoyable despite a bit of originality being lost after the previous tracks.

With this review, I confirm and emphasize the return of Evile to the thrash revival scene, hoping they can stay and continue to produce good music even without their dear friend Mike. In any case, the four British thrashers seem to have no intention of stopping. You've been warned…