Still Remains - The Serpent (2007) Review
Original Release Date: July 16, 2007
Label: Roadrunner Records
The latest album of Michigan based Christian metalcore band, Still Remains is quite disappointing. Having listened to their previous album, Of Love And Lunacy, the latest album seems to lack aggression, which they have already established in the previous one. I haven’t heard of their first album yet, but it has been said that The Serpent’s musical direction was taken from the band’s earlier releases. Unlike in the previous album, the keyboards in which Still Remains is known for, were more apparent this time. The less aggressive melodies made way for the keyboard to sink in beautifully with the softer tracks. It was clearly demonstrated in the first track, which has the same title as the album. Nevertheless, I expected more from the band. A smoother transition could’ve at least prepared me for the direction that they were going. Take the case of Trivium’s Ascendancy album to The Crusade. The turning point was really good that it gave me a lot more tracks to choose from. After 2 years of waiting, it just wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t the Still Remains I had previously known.
Tracks I disliked:
- Maria
- Dancing With The Enemy
- The River Song
Tracks I liked:
- The Wax Walls Of An Empty Room
- Anemia In Your Sheets
- Dropped From The Cherry Tree
- Sleepless Nights Alone
- An Undesired Reunion
- Avalanche
Still Remains is known for its unique sound, by incorporating keyboards into American modern metal sounds, to create a distinct, euro-metal sound into their music. The band cite bands like In Flames and Children of Bodom as their influences. They have recently covered Nine Inch Nails’s Head Like a Hole for the Kerrang! free CD, High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, celebrating the magazine’s 25th anniversary.
Very recently, the band’s keyboardist, Zach Roth, left the group. Also, bass player Evan Willey left the band so that he and his wife could raise their baby. They have been replaced by Ben Schauland and Steve Hetland, respectively. -Wikipedia
July 6th, 2007 at 1:03
Very interesting review, I must say. Although I haven’t actually listened to this album, I would really be interested in seeing “what’s wrong” with those guys, and especially the tracks you mentioned as dislikes.
Could it be that the band’s recent personnel change might have had something to do with all of that? What’s the background of the new keyboard and players?
At any rate, GREAT REVIEW! Keep’em coming.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:39
@WebGyver,
Welcome back!
Yeah, the new members could’ve have made a significant impact. I haven’t thought of that. Thanks for you input. I couldn’t find information on the background of the new members, but I will have to say that they know their craft well. Talent wasn’t really an issue to me when I listened to the new album. All of them did perform well. It’s just that the musical direction they took didn’t match my expectations.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:07
Still Remains has their own video blog hosted by kyte.tv! They have a whole bunch of cool shows on there, all that they produced themselves! Check it out!! It’s on their myspace!
http://www.myspace.com/stillremains