(c) Tuomas Luiro
How far has humanity come? And what was the price for that? These and other existential questions arise Serotonin Syndrome on their first album in over seven years. The Finns’ blackened, doomy post-metal is making a welcome comeback and is harder, more complex and more multi-layered than ever – a development that was already hinted at in 2020’s single “Bipolar Highness”. „Seed Of Mankind“ now strives for perfection in form for fans of Agalloch.
“Among Others” sets the tone in every respect and even rages angrily for eight minutes. Post Metal serves as a framework and collides with Blackened Doom. This brings with it one or the other full sprint, but also a lot of feeling and playfulness in the somewhat reduced passages. Here Serotonin Syndrome run the full program of frosty cold, torpedo all senses at the same time and let the guitars pound. However, the hope for a big, all-embracing melodic turn remains unfulfilled, because the abyss pulls into oppressive shallows once more and once more.
Of course, complete madness awaits there. “Dot Marks The Spot” stages this with emphasis, with frosty coldness and bitter sweetness. An ode to hopelessness plays with Dark Metal ideas, the verse’s combination of rancid snarl and stripped-down arrangement throws off your soul life, and then things go through the roof following all. Dense textures and consistent self-flagellation go an exciting way. “The Pitiful One” is already waiting there with comparatively frontal action, with pronounced bite and pointed uptempo passages that even conjure up some Death action.
This record repeatedly sheds its skin and holds amazing entertainment value. Dark to depressing worlds of sound accompany the work of Serotonin Syndrome and at the same time show the band more feverishly, more passionately than they have in a long time. Seed Of Mankind is the fantastic next step for the dark mages from the arctic circle, which proves to be more entertaining, complex and exciting than ever. Their second album draws you into an intense maelstrom and at the end spits out the last remnants of sensitivity contemptuously – a happening, full to the brim with bittersweet fascination.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 01/27/2023
Available from: self-distribution
Facebook: www.facebook.com/serotonin0syndrome
Category: Magazin, Reviews