Serpent Sermon
Marduk · 2012
46 min · 10 tracks · black metal
A relentless barrage of blast beats and ominous riffs intertwine with dark, esoteric themes that define Marduk's black metal ferocity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Serpent Sermon Start here — The title track serves as a powerful opener, encapsulating the album's dark themes and musical intensity with its relentless pace and haunting melodies.
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Into Second Death — This track features a compelling blend of aggressive instrumentation and atmospheric elements, showcasing Marduk's ability to balance chaos with moments of eerie calm.
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Hail Mary (Piss-Soaked Genuflexion) — With provocative lyrics and a punishing rhythm, this song stands out for its audacious approach to blasphemy and critique of religious dogma.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Marduk's 'Serpent Sermon' showcases strong composition and craft within its relentless black metal framework.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features rapid blast beats and layered guitar riffs, establishing a relentless pace that continues throughout.
- Each song typically follows a verse-chorus structure but often incorporates tempo shifts that create moments of intensity and atmosphere.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions between sections, contributing to a feeling of chaos and urgency in the music.
- The lyrics explore dark themes, often delivered in a harsh vocal style that complements the aggressive instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- relentless sonic intensity
- dynamic peaks and valleys
- apocalyptic themes throughout
- ferocious riffs for catharsis
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light, uplifting sounds
- avoid intense lyrical content
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows Marduk's continued evolution and solidifies their black metal status.
- Themes
- religious blasphemy· apocalyptic imagery· esoteric darkness
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2012, Serpent Sermon is Marduk's twelfth studio album, following the critically acclaimed Wormwood from 2009. At this point in their career, Marduk had solidified their status as a leading force in the black metal genre, known for pushing boundaries with their aggressive sound and lyrical content.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dark Funeral· Behemoth· Immortal
Tracklist
- 1 Serpent Sermon Start here 4:38
- 2 Messianic Pestilence 2:50
- 3 Souls for Belial 4:47
- 4 Into Second Death 5:11
- 5 Temple of Decay 5:25
- 6 Damnation's Gold 6:48
- 7 Hail Mary (Piss-Soaked Genuflexion) 3:27
- 8 M.A.M.M.O.N. 3:30
- 9 Gospel of the Worm 2:37
- 10 World of Blades 7:09
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Satanist
Behemoth
Shares similar apocalyptic imagery and relentless aggression with dark, esoteric themes.
Transilvanian Hunger
Darkthrone
Captures a raw, relentless black metal sound paired with themes of darkness and nihilism.
Sons of Northern Darkness
Immortal
Features aggressive riffs and a bleak atmosphere reflecting apocalyptic and icy themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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