Crotaline - The Embrace of Cloacal Desire

Release Date: April 3rd, 2026

Label: Liminal Dread Productions

Attention slitherees and slitherers, The Embrace of Cloacal Desire, the debut LP from Philly snakes Crotaline, released on April 3rd. Crotaline is music for reptilian mother fuckers. I think the band would actually be quite happy if only actual reptiles listened to their music. Pure bliss.

Straight up, this record is fuckin sick. Evil and doomy blackened thrash. If you’re a fan of first wave of black metal, you should dig this record. Gives early Slayer vibes, Death, and some Blood Ritual era Samael. Doesn’t have to be fast all the time! It’s agonizing, thrashing, and crushing. Black metal with riffs you can digest. 

There are 195 pound chugging parts (not 200 pound) in the song The Blind Snake of Brahminy that I wouldn’t bat an eye at if I heard them snuck in somewhere on a Crowbar track (200 plus only). Hearing cowbell in Pale Spectre on the Shore was most certainly a hell yeah moment. Now I’m just waiting (and hoping) for a hardcore band to throw cowbell on their tracks without it feeling forced. Anyway, whoever had the idea to put cowbell on the record, you’re pretty cool. Well done. Widow’s Web is another favorite of mine on here, a pure well paced head banging thrasher, and As the Serpents Feast has a simple but ever so effective riff in the chorus, a nice ear-worm that’s sticks with you. There a riffs all over this album, fast, slow and everything in between. It’s sure to satisfy most, if not all your cloacal desires.

I like each song on the record, but for me I think the record starts a bit slow before blowing your door down with riffs. The opener is a good song and does a great job of giving you what to expect from the record, but I don’t think it has as much fire as the other songs. The album closer I somewhat feel the same way about, but it has this slow, evil doomy Sabbath riff in it that I really enjoy each time I hear it. It closes this Cloacal experience very nicely.

The Embrace of Cloacal Desire is an awesome record that everyone should listen to.

Crotaline is just as awesome live, so if they are playing a show near you be sure to check them out. Cold Blooded music prevails!

Score: 8.5/10