NITE Shine Triumphant on Cult of the Serpent Sun
Blackened Bay Area torchbearers set the sky ablaze on third album
Touring the East Coast with Savage Master
After journeying to the stars on their full-length venture, NITE now faces the shadowy mythology that lays dormant beneath society’s underbelly on Cult of the Serpent Sun. Each of the eight fiery battles on their new album test the Bay Area torchbearers mettle. But amidst its poisonous perils, the band emerge triumphant with white-hot, blackened heavy metal.
“Listen to Cult of the Serpent Sun if you are interested in any or all of the following:”, writes Last Rites, “mighty drums, crushing bass, leads that soar and melt your face. Riffs of steel, songs of war, vox to lead a fearsome horde”.
“…their classiest set of classic metal perversions yet”, Blabbermouthsays. “Many bands have dabbled in similar waters, but seldom with this much self-assurance or creative conviction”.
Cult of the Serpent Sun comes out tomorrow, Friday, March 14, but you can hear all eight slithering tracks today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun
“Cult of the Serpent Sun is our most focused and fully realized album to date”, NITE says. “We’ve struck a balance between melody and aggression, between sophistication and primal simplicity. Our third album captures the dual nature of NITE, the light within the darkness”.
To properly initiate their following into Cult of the Serpent Sun, this summer, NITE are touring the East Coast with the dark and dangerous Savage Master. Raise your spike-gloved fists to the high-flying single “Crow (Fear the Night)” and other battle anthems from their road-ready new album.
NITE 2025 East Coast Tour with Savage Master
June 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply [TICKETS]
June 14 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House [TICKETS]
June 15 – Washington, D.C. @ Pie Shop [TICKETS]
June 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milk Boy [TICKETS]
June 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ TV Eye [TICKETS]
June 19 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East [TICKETS]
June 20 – Quebec City, QC @ La Source de la Martinière [TICKETS]
June 21 – Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar [TICKETS]
June 22 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern [TICKETS]
June 24 – Cleveland, OH @ No Class [TICKETS]
June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies / Music Joint [TICKETS]
June 26 – Detroit MI @ Sanctuary [TICKETS]
June 27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle [TICKETS]
June 28 – Lexington, KY @ Green Lantern [TICKETS]
Ever since banding together in 2018, NITE has carried the torch for Bay Area metal. On Cult of the Serpent Sun, the San Franciscan four-piece wisely triple down on their trusty arsenal. The title track snakes into the heat of battle with all the leathery glory of ’80s heavy metal gods.
The “more-is-more” philosophy behind Cult of the Serpent Sun was guided by what NITE garnered from storming the stage at North West Terror Fest and marching across the Southwest on the way to Hell’s Heroes VI. “Fans really responded to older songs like ‘Acheron’ and ‘Genesis’, vocalist and guitarist Van Labrakis says. “Cult of the Serpent Sun has more songs that are fast and upbeat and help lift people’s spirits”. On “Crow (Fear the Night)”, the duel leads of Labrakis and Scot Hoffman climb on the back of drummer Patrick Crawford’s foundation-shaking march like two birds of the same feather.
But while blessed with proven chemistry, NITE’s particular alchemy is defined by contrasts. As Crawford says in the latest issue of New Noise: “the dark and the light, the good and the evil. We celebrate both elements. Without one, you can not have the other”. With melodic riffs that drip like candle wax, “The Mystic” glistens like a midnight seance. “Fire / Bring me to life”, Labrakis beckons as bassist Avinash Mittur stretches time and space into a hypnotic groove.
While ringed by rituals of fire and slithering with serpentine demi-gods, Cult of the Serpent Sun was written amidst shadows brought on by real life. “NITE strives to be a light”, says Labrakis. “This album is about how we persevere in times of immense darkness”. His road-hardened voice stands defiant on standout “Carry On”, which denounces the perils of war with axes raised high and mighty.
Tracklist
1. Cult of the Serpent Sun (4:56) [LISTEN]
2. Skull (4:31)
3. Crow (Fear The Night) (4:11) [WATCH]
4. The Mystic (4:55) [LISTEN]
5. The Last Blade (4:32)
6. Carry On (4:29)
7. Tarmut (5:14)
8. Winds of Sokar (3:52)
Location: San Francisco, California
Genre: Blackened Heavy Metal
FFO: Iron Maiden, Savatage, Abbath, Midnight
When darkness engulfs the world, NITE sets the sky ablaze with white-hot, blackened heavy metal.
Having journeyed to the stars on their last venture, NITE now faces the abyssal and shadowy mythology that has long laid dormant beneath society. Each of the eight epic battles on Cult of the Serpent Sun tests their mettle. But amidst the album’s blackened perils, the band emerges victorious.
“NITE strives to be a light,” says vocalist and guitarist Van Labrakis. “Cult of the Serpent Sun is about how we persevere in times of immense darkness.”
Ever since banding together in 2018, NITE has carried the torch for Bay Area metal. Darkness Silence Mirror Flame debuted their blackened twist on NWOBHM. “…raucous, Marshall-fueled heavy metal that would be the envy of many a British band in the 1980s,” wrote Invisible Oranges. Follow-up Voices of the Kronian Moon upped the ante with more strutting tempos and windblown shredding, much to Stereogum’s delight. “It’s like speeding down a freeway at night in a Corvette with the top down, but everyone is wearing velvet capes.”
On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE wisely triples down on their trusty arsenal. Instead of scaling back, their third album adds more heft to the band’s armor. Labrakis and fellow guitarist Scott Hoffman’s molten leads duel with heightened showmanship. Drummer Patrick Crawford pummels and gallops while Avinash Mittur rattles the chest with his Rickenbacker bass. The title track charges with newfound urgency, slithery and venomous in its attack.
The album’s “more is more” philosophy is guided by what NITE have learned from the road. Since their last studio stint, the band have stormed the stage at Northwest Terror Fest, toured with fellow statesmen Persekutor and Haunt and marched across the Southwest on the road to Hell’s Heroes VI. “Fans really responded to older songs like ‘Acheron’ and ‘Genesis’,” Labrakis says. “Cult of the Serpent Sun has more songs that are fast and upbeat and help lift people’s spirits.” Galvanized by a foundation-shaking groove, “Skull” defiantly crushes. “Crow (Fear the Night)” is a rallying cry, calling for fists to rise with power and might.
NITE’s classic weaponry shows no signs of rust on their third album. “The Last Blade” draws first blood amidst an acoustic flurry before thrusting onto the offensive. “The aim here is not to replicate that era but to explore and evolve,” Labrakis told Decibel when asked about the band’s influences. Cult of the Serpent Sun honors the trailblazing spirits of old by honing what separates this band’s particular alchemy from mere imitation brew. “The Mystic” expands their sonic palette, featuring a slow-burning bass line that stretches time and space into a hypnotic portal. With its whirling and enchanted melody, “Tarmut” glimmers like a desert mirage.
“We play a traditional style of heavy metal, but the blackened element takes us in a different direction,” Labrakis says. His road-hardened voice stands resolute in “Carry On,” denouncing the perils of war. “Dream on and find who you are,” he beckons on the album’s triumphant closer “Winds of Sokar.”
On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE guards the altar of blackened heavy metal with sharpened blades and axes raised.
Lineup:
Van Labrakis: Guitar / Vocals
Scott Hoffman: Guitar
Avinash Mittur: Bass
Patrick Crawford: Drums
Recording studio
210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container
Production credits
Recorded by Van Labrakis
Produced by Van Labrakis and Nite
Mixed and mastered by Van Labrakis at 210 Studios San Francisco
Cover artist
Adam Vick
Available formats
Digital download
CD Digipack
12″ Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12″ Vinyl Gatefold (Red with black splatters)
12″ Vinyl Gatefold (Red and black marbled)
Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun
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