Released 10 years ago this October
The Serpent Only Lies
Crowbar · 2016
45 min · 10 tracks · sludge metal
Heavy riffs and guttural vocals intertwine, creating a suffocating atmosphere that captures the essence of despair and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Falling While Rising — The opener sets a profound tone with its blend of melodic elements and crushing riffs, encapsulating the album's emotional depth.
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I Am the Storm — This track stands out for its raw intensity and concise structure, delivering an urgent message about inner strength and resilience.
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The Serpent Only Lies — The title track delivers a potent mix of haunting melodies and aggressive riffs, epitomizing the thematic exploration of deception and struggle throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production while maintaining a cohesive sludge metal sound.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a slow, heavy riff that gradually builds intensity, setting a dark tone for the album.
- Each song features a consistent use of down-tuned guitars and guttural vocals, creating a cohesive sound throughout.
- Several tracks incorporate tempo shifts, alternating between slower, crushing sections and faster, aggressive passages.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
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
- resilient themes of overcoming struggle
- introspective reflections on darkness
- steady pacing with occasional urgency
- for late-night contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer upbeat and fast tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The Serpent Only Lies is Crowbar's tenth studio album, released during a resurgence in their career following the critical acclaim of their previous album, Symmetry in Black (2014). At this point, the band was solidifying its status as a pillar of sludge metal while maintaining a dedicated fanbase established over decades.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Down· Eyehategod· Acid Bath
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Embrace the Light
In a pivotal moment, the lyrics shift from darkness to an invitation toward hope and recovery.
This transition symbolizes a crucial turning point in the narrative, contrasting earlier themes of despair with a newfound sense of agency.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Falling While Rising 5:39
- 2 Plasmic and Pure 5:40
- 3 I Am the Storm 2:57
- 4 Surviving the Abyss 4:54
- 5 The Serpent Only Lies 4:35
- 6 The Enemy Beside You 4:43
- 7 Embrace the Light 4:23
- 8 On Holy Ground 4:34
- 9 Song of the Dunes 3:48
- 10 As I Heal 4:04
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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