What makes Death by Thy Serpent notable?

This EP is significant for its influence on the evolution of atmospheric black metal, helping to shape the genre's darker lyrical and musical landscapes. Notably, 'Death' received favorable reviews from underground metal publications, establishing Thy Serpent as a noteworthy act within the scene and contributing to the growing recognition of Finnish black metal internationally. When Thy Serpent released 'Death' in 2000, they were transitioning from their early work that established them within the Finnish black metal scene. This EP followed their 1997 full-length debut, 'Forests', showcasing a more refined sound while maintaining their dark aesthetic. The release marked a pivotal moment as the band sought to deepen their exploration of existential themes.

How many songs are on Death?

Death has 4 tracks, running approximately 22 minutes.

Death

Thy Serpent · 2000

22 min · 4 tracks · black metal

A haunting exploration of mortality, blending atmospheric black metal with melancholic melodies and visceral lyrical themes.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Deathbearer — The opening track sets the tone for the EP with its eerie atmosphere and aggressive instrumentation, encapsulating the overarching themes of mortality and despair.
→
Wounds of Death — This track showcases a blend of melodic riffs and brutal vocals, illustrating the band's ability to fuse beauty with darkness while exploring profound themes of suffering.
→
Sleep in Oblivion — 'Sleep in Oblivion' features a haunting melody that contrasts sharply with its heavy instrumentation, reinforcing the sense of inevitability surrounding death.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

67 /100

Treeline

Higher than 61% of albums we've rated

The EP effectively blends atmosphere and melody, showcasing a refined sound while maintaining cohesion across its tracks.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a slow, atmospheric build that incorporates layered guitar harmonies and distant, echoing vocals.
Each subsequent track maintains a mid-tempo pace but introduces variations in melody and dynamics, creating a sense of progression.
The final track features an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Deathbearer 4:23
2 Wounds of Death 7:18
3 Sleep in Oblivion 5:32
4 Parasites 5:10

What to play next

Go back to

Christcrusher

1998

Full Thy Serpent discography Artists like Thy Serpent Which Thy Serpent albums to start with

black metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata