Shortly after talking to someone connected with the band prior to Serotonal’s Bloodstock show, a package with a couple of their CD’s turned up. Just as we are coming up to the Unholy Trinity date featuring Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Anathema, one figure who was present at the time was Darren White, original singer in Anathema who went on to form The Blood Divine, Dead Men Dream and now Serotonal.
The group released their first demo ‘The End Of Everything’ in 2004 and followed it up with ‘The Futility…’ in 2005 as a self release. This finally saw the light of day courtesy of Czech label Metal Breath in the UK at the beginning of this year. The half hour disc only contains 5 numbers, two of them being listed as bonus tracks and they really illustrate the diverse nature of the group.
On the whole it is a pretty mellow affair. Opener ‘Chosen Words’ pulses away with a synth line and spoken word part, melody wise really reminiscent of New Model Army classic ‘The Charge’, albeit at a much slower trot. The acoustic flow does build and suddenly it bounces in all guns blazing. ‘Ravine’ starts again as a chilled and somewhat sombre vocal soliloquy, which it gradually constructs a dreamy flow around. The fragile sounding vocals are perfect here and you are instantly at ease with the fact that these are numbers lovingly sung from the heart. Whilst still evocative and reflective vocal wise ‘You Can Love Again’ is more upbeat and forceful instrumentally moving from soporific mood into one of anger, like a jilted lover at full flow.
There are just a couple of numbers on the 2008 demo which I assume is a taster for the work in progress debut album, as yet one without a label attached to it. ‘Self Control Seizure’ has much more force behind it both vocally and instrumentally and strikes as a band with ballast behind them rather than one more at ease with creating fragmentary moods. It’s a strong number too and with another eight or so like this behind them it is going to be an interesting debut. It could even be the strongest number we have heard from Darren since the mighty ‘Aureole’. ‘Chaosmind’ similarly storms away with a ballsy attitude about it and even induces head-banging action as it ploughs onward. I can see there being a good potential crossover audience for Serotonal appealing to both the metal head and the heavy rock fan. Only thing is they need to be made aware that they exist first! You heard me, now listen to the songs.
http://www.myspace.com/serotonal
http://www.serotonal.co.uk
