The Serfs - "Angelic Ritualistic Cruelty b/w Debt World"
THE SERFS - “ANGELIC RITUALISTIC CRUELTY B/W DEBT WORLD”
The Serfs, one of my favorite Cincinnati bands, just released a 3 song EP, and this shit slaps! This is their first release since their debut album, The Sounds of Serfdom, from January of 2020 and it sure does not disappoint. Titled Angelic Ritualistic Cruelty b/w Debt World, this headbanger is a great look into what the band has been working on during the plague. It was released by Market Square Recordings in Gijòn, Spain, an interesting break from their vinyl releases with Detriti Records of Berlin. The first song “Angelic Ritualistic Cruelty” is described as a “Blitzkrieg dirge” by the band, is over pretty quickly, and leaves a lasting enough impression to immediately replay it. I’ll be honest, I listened to this one about 4 times in a row before moving on! It has a heavy emphasis on drums and chords with obscure and dark vocals that perfectly match the wonderful punk chaos. The insightful “Dissection” starts off with a similar emphasis on drums but this time it’s paired with a discordant and scratchy guitar, something reminiscent of Bauhaus. The bleak lyricism and vocal effects in this one are exactly what I had hoped for, and the energy is almost palpable. The final track stands out from the rest of this EP with its distinct 80’s influence. An almost industrial vibe is coupled with introductory car horns and a synthy, hollow base. “Debt World” sparkles with echoed vocals and an anxiety-inducing (I mean that in a good way!) 80’s digital effect. This one is a really fun atmospheric almost-instrumental. This EP is probably one of my favorite regional releases of the year so far and shows off The Serfs’ flexibility. Also, it is available on vinyl (with shipping) for 16.60€!
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Review by ::
Wayne Moots
Manor Co-Organizer & Staff Writer
Manor Records gives 100% of the article author rights to Wayne Moots.