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Generation Of Vipers is a postcore/metal outfit hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee. In its ranks are members from US Christmas and A Storm Of Light. They have released two full lengths thus far. Their latest music venture, Howl And Filth, is GOV’s third record and also marks their first release on Translation Loss. Let’s see if there are any snakes in the grass this time around...

The rules and boundaries within the postcore/post metal genre are pretty much defined by bands like Converge, Neurosis and Isis.


Generation Of Vipers remain safely within the musical limits, but that doesn’t mean Howl And Filth has nothing to offer. Far from it, because it can easily holds its own against any Rosetta, Red Sparowes or Burst records.

The guys in Generation Of Vipers have a good grasp of how to write well-structured and engaging compositions. “Ritual,” “Eternal” and “Slow Burn” are great examples in that regard. Secondly, the band doesn’t venture into Neurosis country in terms of extremely depressive overtones or creating an extremely oppressive and suffocating atmosphere. This keeps Howl And Filth fresh and prevents the album from becoming bogged down in an pointless cesspool of endless repeating drones.

It’s fashionable within certain pockets of the postcore/metal realm to bury the vocals under a massive layers of guitars. That’s something I’m not too happy with, and sadly The GOV guys follow that trend as well. It’s not that J. Holt’s barks are that special or original, but they do add some variety to the album as a whole.

They also act as the proverbial red line through the music.

Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou expertly took care of the production values of this album. He gave Howl And Filth its distinct sound. It’s clear enough to make every instrument audible, but it has enough grit to reinforce the postcore/metal element.

Howl And Filth may not be the next Oceanic or Panopticon, but it still has enough to offer to satisfy every Isis, Red Sparowes and Rosetta fan out there. Solid album!

(released June 5, 2012 on Translation Loss Records)



Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.