> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://blackmetalzine.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Review: SRPNTS - Second Skin (2026) - URL: https://blackmetalzine.com/review-srpnts-second-skin-2026/ - Published: 2026-10-10T13:00:50.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-10T13:00:50.000Z - Description: SRPNTS - Second Skin (8/10). Occult Black Metal from Germany. Solve et coagula: destroy the old form. Catchy riffs, suffocating atmosphere. - Author: Michael - Tags: Reviews, 2026, Black Metal, Germany, #rating-8 **Band:** SRPNTS **Album:** Second Skin **Genre:** Black Metal **Country:** Germany **Label:** Serpent Sun Records **Released:** October 2, 2026 ## **Introduction** Emerging from Germany, SRPNTS is a new occult black metal entity operating in the shadows of Serpent Sun Records. Described as being “born from the remains of a former shape,” the project builds its identity around nihilism, Gnostic opposition, transformation and the adversarial current. Second Shape, the band's debut full-length, takes these ideas beyond simple aesthetic window dressing, presenting an album concerned with dissolution, destruction and the formation of something new from what remains. ## **Second Skin** *Track List:* 1. *Beneath the Weight of Stars* 2. *Inter Limina* 3. *Cold Alignment* 4. *O Furnace of the Inner Night* 5. *The Seal of Will* 6. *Coagula* There is certainly familiar territory here for anyone immersed in modern occult black metal, with the ritualistic aggression recalling the darker side of bands such as Ofermod and Behexen. Yet SRPNTS avoids sounding like a simple exercise in imitation. There is a deliberate sense of atmosphere and songwriting beneath the violence, giving Second Shape an identity of its own. Right away, Second Shape hit me with a sound very reminiscent of Ahklys. The combination of frantic riffing, dissonant outbursts, ritualistic chanting and that suffocating atmosphere immediately brought Ahklys to mind, while the more ceremonial side also carries similarities to Mephorash and Acherontas. These aren't bands I'd normally lump together casually, but SRPNTS occupy that same modern strain of occult black metal where atmosphere, ritual and crushing riffs all become part of the same experience. “Beneath The Weight Of Stars” opens the album with chanting before launching into some seriously frantic riffing. The guitars are heavy and chunky, but there's plenty of dissonance woven through them, giving the song a feeling of controlled chaos. The chanting returns toward the end, bringing the track back around to that liturgical atmosphere. “Inter Limina” slows things down and gives the riffs more room to breathe. The dissonance becomes even more noticeable, but what really stands out here are the vocals. There is an interesting contrast between almost chant-like passages and barked, commanding vocals that gives the track a ritualistic quality without sacrificing its aggression. The riffs remain both melodic and dissonant, but the ending is where this song really grabbed me. Those final riffs are probably some of my favorite on the album, leading into a cool spoken-word section before dropping back into another set of seriously killer riffs. "Cold Alignment” picks the pace back up, with a frantic, almost swarm-of-bees quality to some of the guitar work. There's something almost invocation-like about the lyrical delivery here, and once again the riffs are doing most of the heavy lifting. “O Furnace Of The Inner Night” brings some of the album's heaviest material, while “The Seal Of Will” pushes further into blistering tremolo-driven black metal. The closing “Coagula” is appropriately suffocating, bringing together the album's darker atmosphere and more desperate vocal performances. The title and overall concept fit the music well: Second Shape revolves around dissolution and transformation, drawing on the alchemical idea of solve et coagula—breaking down the old form before something new emerges from it. ## **Conclusion** Overall, Second Shape is modern black metal with a strong occult identity: melodic, heavy, dissonant and wrapped in an atmosphere that can feel downright suffocating at times. The production is excellent, allowing the chunky guitars, layered melodies, drums and varied vocals to come through without turning everything into an indistinguishable wall of sound. My only real criticism is that I would have liked to hear a little more contrast across the album. With such a consistently dark and oppressive sound, the addition of something like female vocals could have provided an interesting counterpoint to the chanting and harsher vocals. Mephorash, for example, have demonstrated how effective that kind of vocal contrast can be within this broader ritualistic style. That said, this is still a very solid debut. The riffs are catchy as hell, the vocals work exceptionally well, and there's enough going on beneath the surface to keep coming back to. If you're into the modern occult black metal sound of Ahklys, Mephorash, Acherontas and similar bands, SRPNTS are absolutely worth checking out. Second Shape may be concerned with destroying an old form, but musically, SRPNTS have built something here that's very much worth keeping. BMZ Rating: 8/10 ![](https://blackmetalzine.com/content/images/2025/11/image-46.png) ## Signup to our newsletter and Social Media Below you can sign up to our newsletter(s) one of those is The Infernal Records, a weekly newsletter where Fractal our dedicated researcher finds new releases of the previous week that are worth your time. You can sign up here: ## Unleashing the Darkness Within become a member of Black Metal Zine Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We also love to hear your thoughts and opinions on our articles, so feel free to follow us on our social media channels. Or join us on Black Metal Promotions, [**Discord**](https://discord.com/invite/9WBTVvNYEC?ref=blackmetalzine.com). Where we talk about all things black metal. You can find us on the following social media outlets: Facebook: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blackmetal.zine/](https://www.instagram.com/blackmetal.zine/?ref=blackmetalzine.com) Threads: [https://www.threads.com/@blackmetal.zine](https://www.threads.com/@blackmetal.zine?ref=blackmetalzine.com)