Oakland’s Serpent Crown
The San Francisco metal scene has been a deep pool of creativity for decades, including the 80s Bay Area Thrash movement. Thirty years removed from that scene, newer bands are creating exciting new variations on the genre. Oakland’s dirty-thrash power trio, Serpent Crown, is one of the few that stand above their contemporaries.
Serpent Crown grew out of local artist Daria Santhai‘s passion for creative expression. Though born in Manila, Philippines, Daria and her family traveled the world. She learned to play piano young and is a classically trained musician. It has only been in recent years that Santhai picked up guitar and added that to her arsenal. Her thick riffs, and greasy solo work set the tone for the band’s hybrid mix of thrash, hardcore, and heavy doom rock.
Serpent Crown released its debut self-titled release in late 2011 with Santhai handling guitar and vocal work. The band’s bassist and drummer have been in flux in recent years, but Tommy and Rob are trio’s current rhythm section. The band is hoping to release its next album within the year.
According to Santhai it was Slayer’s Show No Mercy and Sepultura’s Beneath the Remains that informed her path to more extreme metal elements. You can check out the band’s debut EP below. Purchase it if you like it.
