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OPPROBRIUM Serpent Temptation LP RED

Brand new LP. Sealed.
Ships safely. Photos are stock images.
High Roller Records, transparent blood red vinyl, ltd 500, insert, A5 photo card, double-sided poster, Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel in February 2023. Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels ... The ultimate audiophile reissue!

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Scott Latour - Bass, Vocals Francis M. Howard - Guitars Moyses M. Howard - Drums
ALBUM 1988:
01 The Battle of Armageddon 02 Voices from the Grave 03 Sadistic Sinner 04 Incubus 05 Blaspheming Prophets 06 Hunger for Power 07 Serpent Temptation 08 Underground KillersSupernatural Death DEMO 1987:
01 Death 02 Hell's Fire 03 Serpent Temptation 04 Sadistical Sinner 05 Cataleptic
06 Voices from the Grave 07 Rigor Mortis 08 Incubus (Opprobrium) 09 Blind Vengeance 10 Assault

AVAILABLE

Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel in February 2023. Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels ... The ultimate audiophile reissue!
In 1982, when teenage brothers Moyses and Francis M. Howard moved from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to New Orleans, Louisiana with their parents, they could not know that they would soon be taken by the nascent metal underground in the US and become forerunners themselves – but that is just what happened when they formed Incubus (now known as Opprobrium) together with bass player/singer Scot W. Latour in 1986.
After the release of a four-song demo tape in 1987, the trio released their debut full-length Serpent Temptation in 1988, a pioneering milestone in several respects. With Moyses´ blastbeat drumming, which was still a rarity in those days apart from hardly more than a handful of other acts using it in the same uncompromising way, Francis´ fast-paced riffing an Latour´s furious snarl, Serpent Temptation existed on the verge between thrash and early death metal. Balancing chaos and control just perfectly, these tunes were meant to become timeless classics right from the start.
This first effort got them a record deal with the then-revolutionary label German Nuclear Blast, which also released both its successors Beyond the Unknown (1990) and Discerning Forces (2000, by then under the name Opprobrium) as well as, in 1996, a new recording of Serpent Temptation: With Latour out of the band, Francis also took over vocal duties and re-worked the lyrics in addition of also re-recording the bass for this alternate version.
Needless to say, the result was no less convincing, and if you want to compare, this might be the ideal time to do so thanks to the new, ultimate editions of both versions of the album. The 1988 and ´96 versions of Serpent Temptation were faithfully restored by mastering specialist Patrick W. Engel (Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse etc al.) at Temple of Disharmony studio, with vinyl cutting courtesy of SST Germany.
Both incarnations of the album are available as single CD, LP and picture disc. Furthermore, the 1988 version comes out on double vinyl, featuring the group´s sole 1987 demo Supernatural Death – for the first time ever in its entirety with six additional tracks (´Death´, ´Hell's Fire´, ´Cataleptic´, ´Rigor Mortis´, ´Blind Vengeance´, ´Assault´), which were recorded during the same sessions but never released until now.
Lastly, there´s a CD and cassette tape box set, containing the 1988 version alongside the demo recordings and a soundboard recording, capturing the initial Incubus live at V.F.W. Hall in New Orleans on August 28, 1987
Andreas Schiffmann

Opprobrium: Serpent Temptation Originally released in 1988 under their former name, Incubus, Serpent Temptation is the debut album by the New Orleans-based death/thrash metal band Opprobrium. This seminal release is a blistering combination of aggressive thrash riffs, raw death metal brutality, and a sinister atmosphere, earning it a place as a cult classic in the extreme metal genre.
Background Opprobrium was formed in the mid-1980s by the Howard brothers, Francis (guitar/vocals) and Moyses (drums), alongside bassist/vocalist Scot W. Latour. Emerging from the fertile metal scene of Louisiana, the band quickly gained attention for their intense live performances and relentless musical style. The release of Serpent Temptation under the name Incubus solidified their reputation as one of the pioneering acts blending thrash and death metal. The band later changed their name to Opprobrium to avoid confusion with other bands named Incubus.
Musical Style Serpent Temptation stands at the intersection of thrash and early death metal, characterized by ferocious riffing, blistering solos, and guttural yet decipherable vocals. Moyses Howard’s drumming is particularly notable, featuring rapid double bass and intricate fills that provide a chaotic yet precise foundation for the music. The album’s dark and blasphemous lyrical themes, combined with its raw production, perfectly capture the spirit of late-1980s underground metal.
Track Highlights "Battle of the Armageddon"
A relentless opening track with rapid tempo changes and ferocious riffing. "Voices from the Grave"
A hauntingly brutal song that showcases the band’s dynamic songwriting and eerie atmosphere. "Sadistic Sinner"
A standout track blending breakneck thrash rhythms with early death metal aggression. "Incubus"
An explosive, riff-heavy anthem with a sinister vibe, reflecting the band’s early name. "Hunger for Power"
A high-octane thrash assault featuring intricate solos and a pummeling rhythm section. "Serpent Temptation"
The title track is a masterpiece of thrash/death fusion, with relentless energy and apocalyptic imagery. "Underground Killers"
A savage closer with memorable hooks and raw intensity. Legacy Serpent Temptation is revered as a cornerstone of death/thrash metal, influencing countless bands in the genres that followed. While it didn’t receive mainstream recognition upon its release, the album has gained a cult following over the years, celebrated for its raw energy and pioneering sound. The 1996 reissue of the album under the name Opprobrium introduced it to a new generation of extreme metal fans.
50 Similar Artists Morbid Angel Death Possessed Sepultura (early era) Slayer Kreator Sodom Destruction Sadus Demolition Hammer Massacre Autopsy Necrophagia Exumer Dark Angel Razor Sacrifice Rigor Mortis Vio-Lence Nuclear Assault Protector Pestilence Deicide Immolation Malevolent Creation Angelcorpse Nocturnus Obituary Vital Remains Exhorder Carnage Benediction Bolt Thrower Messiah Infernal Majesty Devastation Artillery Whiplash Hirax Onslaught Exciter Bulldozer Sarcófago Hellhammer Bathory Venom Blasphemy Goatlord Beherit Monstrosity Serpent Temptation remains a powerful testament to Opprobrium's role in shaping the early death/thrash metal movement, combining unrelenting aggression with groundbreaking innovation.