LUX by In the Company of Serpents

This record is titled "Lux", i.e. "light" in Latin, and one of the central ideas behind it is the notion of a Prima Materia, or fundamental root-essence behind everything in the manifest universe. Philosophers, hermeticists, alchemists, occultists, and all manner of different wizards have speculated what that Prima Materia, or “root essence,” is, but the three chief analogies I've employed in this record are:
All is sound
All is mind
and, critically, All is Light.

With that in mind, we are employing a wealth of Solar imagery with this record, both in the front cover, and lyrically. The cover is essentially an artistic re-imagining of The Sun arcana from Tarot. This ties into the broader solar & light themes at play in the album, but the title, cover, and broader theme is also uniquely personal to me. "Lux" is the etymology of my daughter's name. So, while this album functions as a form of esoteric prayer on one hand, it also serves as a message to my 2 year old, who, as they say in the cliche, is the light of my life.

-GN



“…tectonic slabs of thunderous doom and spacey drone…” — Revolver

“IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS embodies luminous transcendence with its steadfast heaviness and engrossing atmosphere. Without getting too progressive or too ambient, these songs run the gamut of sludge metal both as a musical style and a spiritual guide. Taking a deeper look into the endurance-testing trial-by-riffs illuminates some deep truths about the nature of being.” — Metal Injection

“This album is like a play in three acts, with interludes to direct where the story is going, and at times it reminds me of a Clint Eastwood style spaghetti western; it’s moody, and atmospheric, and I felt like I was being led by the protagonist of the piece through the musical storyline, as it unfolded.” — The Sleeping Shaman

“Lux is shrouded in the past but with optimism for the future, and it’s difficult not to be hypnotized by it.” — The Moshville Times

“Lux takes the tenets of doom and sludge metal to show us the light within and all around.” — Everything Is Noise

“Lux is a grim and often nihilistic sounding album that harnesses chilling atmosphere to great effect. Throw in guest appearances from Colorado Chamber Players violist Paul Primus, Primitive Man guitarist/vocalist Ethan Lee McCarthy, and Khemmis guitarist/vocalist Ben Hutcherson, and IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS are sure to make some waves in these bleak times.” — Metal Trenches

“Songs like the epic opener, ‘The Fool’s Journey,’ feature colossal riffing and pounding beats alongside ethereal passages. The riffs, while heavy as can be, offer up a certain lilt of lightness, utilizing much more of the guitar’s fretboard than generally found in bands of the like. ‘The Chasm At The Mouth Of The All’ features calming southern drawled speak singing and a hearty dose of western influenced musical passages. Lux, as an album, works with that idea frequently, feeling equally comfortable utilizing black metal style picking alongside old school psych work to create a surreal experience for the listener….” — Antichrist Magazine

IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS traffic in sonic catharsis. Their music inhabits the strange fringes between sludge metal and sprawling spaghetti western scores, constantly striving for visceral power and raw intensity, contrasted with eerie, spare instrumental passages.

Grant Netzorg: vocals and guitars

Ben Pitts: Bass & Lap Steel Guitars

JP Damron: Drums

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