Colin, The Metal Observer (Online March 3, 2012)It is rare that a concept album of such unique nature comes along, and MEKIGAH'S "Serpent's Kiss" is one of those albums.Like a gigantic Gothic Opera that does everything right, listeners do not even need a stage as the entire concept enfolds before them simply in the wonderful storytelling of the multiple vocalists (two guys and one gal) as they tell the story of the Fall of Eve. It may be a story that has been told so many times before, and also in a dramatic Metal opera fashion (such as CRADLE OF FILTH'S "Damnation And A Day") but MEKIGAH take a new spin on it, blending Gothic and Doom Metal in an unconventional way.The story is mostly focused on Eve, versus the Fall as a whole, so listeners may get a new, and controversial point of view, that brings forth a whole new story altogether. Like A FOREST OF STARS one thing the band does that is unique is spend a lot of time narrating the story along with singing it, and even the singing is done in a very Symphonic, choral like fashion so it keeps up the Neoclassical feeling of the music altogether, such as on "Dying For Life." The entire composition is just downright beautiful. Other tracks like the interlude narrations like "In A Strange Place" have a folkish tune but definitely border on the sorrowful Doom Metal passages of a band like MY DYING BRIDE, so fans of that band will certainly gravitate towards this group for that reason.When there is actual 'Metal' involved here, it mostly is comprised of slow, melancholic passages mixed with operatic female vocals and somewhat 'Power Metal' based vocals versues the low, crooning ones that is associated with Gothic Metal. Some might consider the project of MEKIGAH the Doom Metal version of DEAD CAN DANCE, as the multitude of instruments and the entire classical and multicultural take on what is delivered are very similar between both groups.When hearing a track like "Return To The Garden," the play off between both vocals works very well with the slow melancholy of the guitars and the thundering drums behind them. Despite quite a bit of fuzzy distortion with the guitars, the vocals are never overshadowed by the instruments and every word of the story is heard clearly. Of course, versus the spoken word tracks, the spoken tracks are much easier to understand, but the lack of growls is certainly appreciated for the sake of the story overall and the male vocals, though sometimes a bit dramatic, fit the entire 'Gothic opera' theme very well.Listeners will take away a harrowing experience that demonstrates 'outside the box' thinking and a new take on Metal as art as opposed to following typical conventions. A new age of Gothic Metal has arrived with "The Serpent's Kiss" that isn't drowned in electronic influences or pop based riffs and keeps up that feeling of 'spooky and spine chilling' while delivering a great story as well.