Serpent Throne - Ride Satan Ride (2007)

   There were plenty of experiments from in the late '00s to bring back the style of the '70s. Bands formed who played hard rock/heavy metal in the same style like 30 years before. Even though similar bands that time had the largest audience ever, the modern restoration affected much less people than it was expected, and only a few bands gained wide attention, so this direction stayed as some niche music.
   This ambition reminded to the concept of stoner rock in the '90s, and some bands like Serpent Throne were into both, and that wasn't hard to manage since the two styles are strongly related. But the main thing is that the band probably didn't have sleepless nights while they've tried to put together the preferred style features. Their musical concept was very simple, and by simplicity it's also possible to refer to various influences. Their music was strongly Black Sabbath influenced, but it's not surprising since Black Sabbath is inevitable if it's about to play the most old school style of metal. Even the sound of the '70s they've imitated so well, that anyone who never heard about the band, could believe that it's some long forgotten gem from the past. The only thing that may sound weird for the unsuspicious listener is the complete lack of vocals, since Serpent Throne have found instrumental music enough effective to transmit their message. "Ride Satan Ride" is filled with lots of catchy heavy themes that are able to simulate to time travel back 30 years in the past. The album offers excellent nostalgia for the fans of the most ancient style of heavy/doom metal, and could be enjoyable for stoner rock fans and well.