Bay Area blackened heavy metal band Nite shine triumphant on »Cult Of The Serpent Sun«; out today via Season Of Mist!
San Francisco, California based blackened heavy metal band Nite presents their third studio album, »Cult Of The Serpent Sun«, which was just released this Friday, March 14th, 2025 via Season Of Mist.
Tracklist:
01. Cult Of The Serpent Sun
02. Skull
03. Crow (Fear The Night)
04. The Mystic
05. The Last Blade
06. Carry On
07. Tarmut
08. Winds Of Sokar
Courtesy of Season Of Mist:
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: mighty drums, crushing bass, leads that soar and melt your face. Riffs of steel, songs of war, vox to lead a fearsome horde.” writes Last Rites.
“…their classiest set of classic metal perversions yet,” Blabbermouth says. “Many bands have dabbled in similar waters, but seldom with this much self-assurance or creative conviction.”
»Cult Of The Serpent Sun« comes out this Friday, March 14, but you can hear all eight slithering tracks by listening to the full album stream on the Season Of Mist YouTube channel. Pre-order & pre-save HERE.
Photo by Bambi Guthrie
“»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
June 14 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
June 15 – Washington, D.C. @ Pie Shop
June 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milk Boy
June 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ TV Eye
June 19 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
June 20 – Quebec City, QC @ La Source de la Martinière
June 21 – Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar
June 22 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern
June 24 – Cleveland, OH @ No Class
June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies / Music Joint
June 26 – Detroit MI @ Sanctuary
June 27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle
June 28 – Lexington, KY @ Green Lantern
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.
Photo by @newpleasure.photos
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.
NITE is:
Van Labrakis – Guitar / Vocals
Scott Hoffman – Guitar
Avinash Mittur – Bass
Patrick Crawford – Drums
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well