For the band name Ordo Cultum Serpentis and the title The Path of the Serpent, a brief glance at the dictionary is enough to understand where we are headed: The Order of the Cult of the Serpent and The Path of the Serpent. That we are dealing with something occult needs little further explanation and is immediately reinforced by the accompanying artwork. Do not expect standard occult Black Metal, however. This is music that unfolds slowly and ominously, deeply rooted in Doom, with sporadic yet venomous outbursts of Black Metal, and above all drenched in a suffocating atmosphere that relentlessly creeps under the skin.
With The Path of the Serpent, Ordo Cultum Serpentis does not present new material, but rather a compilation of two previously released EPs that first saw the light of day in 2021 and 2022 via Signal Rex. These have now been brought together and reissued by the Greek label Zazen Sounds, making the release not only more accessible, but also offering a solid overview of the foundations upon which this project is built.
The band’s line-up further adds to the mystique. The duo operates across a geographical distance of roughly 11,000 kilometres: one half residing in Mexico, the other in South Korea. That physical separation proves to be no obstacle whatsoever. On the contrary, together they succeed in bringing true nightmares to life, forged from a claustrophobic blend of dark Doom, mid-tempo Black Metal, ritualistic sound recordings, and ambient passages that draw the listener in slowly but inexorably.
Dereh Najash I & II is not a release that imposes itself through speed or aggression, but one that demands patience—and rewards it generously. This is music that breathes, crawls, and strangles; music that settles in the shadows and goes about its work from there. Highly distinctive, intensely atmosphere-driven, and without question worth the time of those who prefer their occult Black Metal slow, suffocating, and deeply ritualistic.
It is particularly gratifying to see these works finally united as a single whole. Chapter I and Chapter II are deeply rooted in Doom, both compositions effortlessly exceeding the thirteen-minute mark as they move forward in a slow, lumbering, and oppressive manner. These tracks form the very foundation of the Ordo Cultum Serpentis sound: heavy, ritualistic, and saturated with menace.
Chapter III then clearly brings the band’s Black Metal side to the forefront. Compared to the preceding pieces, this track comes across as somewhat blunt and straightforward, as if deliberately breaking with the dragging structures that came before. Clocking in at exactly five minutes, it is also the shortest and most direct moment on the release.
The closing Chapter IV highlights the project’s Dark Ambient aspect. Here, metal largely fades into the background, leaving behind a cold, ritualistic atmosphere that lingers like an afterimage long after the final sounds have died out.
Together, these four chapters form a strong and coherent opus, in which Doom, Black Metal, and ambient elements complement and reinforce one another, leaving its strongest impression through atmosphere, cohesion, and a distinctly ritualistic, spell-binding character.
What Zazen Sounds’ exact intentions are remains unclear for the time being. So far, the release appears to be available exclusively via their Bandcamp page, with no further information regarding a physical edition. For now, it is a matter of waiting, though this is precisely the kind of material that would lend itself perfectly to a vinyl release, something one can only hope for.
80/100