Made in the Sabbathian tradition, Valley of the Snake is Philadelphia occult rock band Ruby the Hatchet’s sophomore full-length album. The new record has a more doom metal vibe than previous releases. How do the six tracks pan out? This new record is an excellent release. Singer Jillian Taylor commands a sultry yet powerful voice. She leads the album with a sense of darkness as well as high energy. The album is chock full of groovy melodies and tasty riffs. The combination of the various instruments provides a layered soundscape that is candy to the ears. “Heavy Blanket” kicks off the tracklist. It has a mystical aura courtesy of the organ, which also makes it somewhat upbeat. The title reminds me of those heavy blankets that are placed on you when you get an x-ray. Already the band shows they have good songwriting abilities. This number also reminds me a bit of the band Electric Citizen. “Vast Acid” continues the energetic atmosphere with the retro-inspired groove. The organ and guitar play off each other well, dispensing a nice woven harmony. “Tomorrow Never Comes” is my favorite and heaviest of the record. It has an acoustic intro, which is the calm [...]
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