NITE Premiere 'Cult of the Serpent Sun'

March 13, 2025

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.

Cult of the Serpent Sun comes out tomorrow, Friday, March 14, but you can hear all eight slithering tracks today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

Listen to Cult of the Serpent Sun Below:

Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun

"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 [TICKETS]
June 14 - Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House [TICKETS]
June 15 - Washington, D.C. @ Pie Shop [TICKETS]
June 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Milk Boy [TICKETS]
June 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ TV Eye [TICKETS]
June 19 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East [TICKETS]
June 20 - Quebec City, QC @ La Source de la Martinière [TICKETS]
June 21 - Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar [TICKETS]
June 22 - Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern [TICKETS]
June 24 - Cleveland, OH @ No Class [TICKETS]
June 25 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies / Music Joint [TICKETS]
June 26 - Detroit MI @ Sanctuary [TICKETS]
June 27 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle [TICKETS]
June 28 - Lexington, KY @ Green Lantern [TICKETS]

On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE guards the altar of blackened heavy metal with sharpened blades and axes raised.

Lineup:
Van Labrakis: Guitar / Vocals
Scott Hoffman: Guitar
Avinash Mittur: Bass
Patrick Crawford: Drums

Recording studio
210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container

Production credits
Recorded by Van Labrakis
Produced by Van Labrakis and Nite
Mixed and mastered by Van Labrakis at 210 Studios San Francisco

Cover artist
Adam Vick

Available formats
Digital download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Red with black splatters)
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Red and black marbled)

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https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun

Follow NITE
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nite/1499573755
https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/nitemetal
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MjCnAA9RF0vy3j6QYyLG0
https://twitter.com/nitemetal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7-UhuJNohvsMB2DP05LAQ

NITE Shine on "The Mystic"

March 4, 2025

Ever since they banded together in 2018, NITE has carried the torch for Bay Area metal with pride. In the three years since their last Marshall-fueled venture, the San Franciscans have wisely tripled down on their trusted arsenal of blackened heavy metal. "...it will take a crowbar to pry this song out of your head", No Clean Singing wrote about the high-flying lead single from the band's upcoming third album.

With its epic slow burn, the latest single from Cult of the Serpent Sunstill conjures the trailblazing spirits of old. But "The Mystic" shines a light on what separates this band's particular blackened alchemy from mere imitation brew.

Listen to "The Mystic" below:

Cult of the Serpent Sun comes out March 14, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun

After two swashbuckling albums, NITE's classic weaponry still shows no signs of rust. The title track off Cult of the Serpent Sun slithers with all the leathery glory of '80s heavy metal gods. Their new album was guided by what they harnessed while storming the stage at Northwest Terror Fest and Hell's Heroes VI, but its "more is more" philosophy also led them to explore new dimensions.

"Time / Space", Van Labrakis chants as "The Mystic" unfolds as if shrouded by frozen smoke.

NITE's new single highlights the band's blackened edges. Melodic riffs drip like candle wax. Drummer Patrick Crawford pops and pings as if leading a midnight procession. "Red, black and white", Labrakis summons from his spell book while Avinash Mittur stretches his Rickenbacker bass into a hypnotic groove.

Cult of the Serpent Sun pits the band against the shadowy mythologies that have long laid dormant beneath society. But even amidst its freshly blackened perils, NITE emerge victorious. As the flames rise higher and higher, Scott Hoffman's guitar solo illuminates "The Mystic" like a beam of light climbing through the shadows. "Fire / Bring me to life".

"As above, so below", NITE says about "The Mystic". "Black and white, the checkerboard of space and time. Duality as the vehicle of human consciousness. Beyond all our achievements as a species in science, art and philosophy, still our biggest achievement, our alchemical triumph, our magnum opus as humans, is our most animalistic ability to procreate. To cheat time. To cheat death".

NITE's classic weaponry shows no signs of rust on their third album. "The Last Blade" draws first blood amidst an acoustic flurry before thrusting onto the offensive. "The aim here is not to replicate that era but to explore and evolve," Labrakis told Decibel when asked about the band's influences. Cult of the Serpent Sun honors the trailblazing spirits of old by honing what separates this band's particular alchemy from mere imitation brew. "The Mystic" expands their sonic palette, featuring a slow-burning bass line that stretches time and space into a hypnotic portal. With its whirling and enchanted melody, "Tarmut" glimmers like a desert mirage.

"We play a traditional style of heavy metal, but the blackened element takes us in a different direction," Labrakis says. His road-hardened voice stands resolute in "Carry On," denouncing the perils of war. "Dream on and find who you are," he beckons on the album's triumphant closer "Winds of Sokar."

On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE guards the altar of blackened heavy metal with sharpened blades and axes raised.

NITE Slither on New Single "Cult of the Serpent Sun"

February 4, 2025

While they're known for putting a twist on traditional heavy metal, NITE strives to be a light when the world is constricted by darkness. Upon hearing the high-flying first single off their upcoming third album, heshers from across the underground raised their spike-gloved fists over the triumphant return of the blackened Bay Area torchbearers.

"Precision execution, dynamic songwriting and an obvious reverence for the greats all comprise equal parts of NITE's classic approach to contemporary heft", Knotfest wrote in praise of "Crow (Fear the Night".

Today, NITE are unsheathing the second single off Cult of the Serpent Sun. The title track opens the album with the band snaking into the heat of battle with fresh venom.

Listen to "Cult of the Serpent Sun" below:

Cult of the Serpent Sun comes out March 14, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun

Can't wait to hear the full triumph of Cult of the Serpent Sun? RSVP for NITE's upcoming listening party and hear the entire album two weeks before it comes out!

NITE Cult of the Serpent Sun Bandcamp Listening Party
Thursday, February 27 @ 7:30 pm Pacific Time

RSVP
https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/live/cult-of-the-serpent-sun-listening-party

After venturing to the ancient cosmos on their last album, Cult of the Serpent Sun pits NITE against the shadowy mythology that lays dormant beneath society's underbelly. To steel themselves for battle against the album's poisonous perils, NITE wisely triples down on their classic attack. Like a hydra, "Cult of the Serpent Sun" shakes out of your speakers. Van Labrakis unleashes a monstrous riff that slithers with all the leathery glory of '80s heavy metal gods.

"Fans really responded to older songs like 'Acheron' and 'Genesis", Labrakis says. "Cult of the Serpent Sun has more songs that are fast and upbeat and help lift people's spirits".

Indeed, storming stages from Northwest Terror Fest to Hell's Heroes VI has only honed NITE's cutting-edge weaponry. Under his hammering swings, Patrick Crawford's drums crack like thunder before galloping through the storm. Avinash Mittur digs the heel of his Rickenbacker bass into a deep, dark groove as dueling guitarist Scott Hoffman trades off swashbuckling leads.

"Pour your venom / Preachers of the underground", Labrakis hisses, his fangs sharpened by road-tested grit.

"Cult of the Serpent Sun explores how historically there has always been a power structure ready to indoctrinate and exploit the hordes of mindless fools who will so quickly worship at the altar of death", NITE says. "Death eternal!"

NITE Announce New Album 'Cult of the Serpent Sun'

January 13, 2025

When darkness descends, NITE flies high with blackened heavy metal.

After venturing through space on their last album, NITE has returned to face the shadowy mythology that lay dormant beneath society's underbelly. Each of the eight epic battles on Cult of the Serpent Suntests the band's mettle. But amidst their new album's winding perils, NITE emerges triumphant. Lead single "Crow (Fear the Night)" is a rallying cry, calling for fists to rise with power and might.

Watch the classic and cultish video for "Crow (Fear the Night)" below.

Cult of the Serpent Sun comes out March 14, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/nitecultoftheserpentsun

Ever since they banded together out of San Francisco's underground in 2018, NITE has carried the torch for Bay Area metal. On Cult of the Serpent Sun, these four heavy metal avengers triple down on their classic arsenal. "Crow (Fear the Night)" swoops into the heat of battle with talons drawn. Like two birds of the same feather, the duel leads of Van Labrakis and Scott Hoffman climb on the back of drummer Patrick Crawford's foundation-shaking march.

Cult of the Serpent Sun carries a "more-is-more" philosophy, guided by what NITE garnered on the road. Since their last studio stint, the band have stormed the stage at Northwest Terror Fest, toured California with fellow statesmen Persekutor and Haunt and marched across the Southwest on the road to Hell's Heroes VI.

"Fans really responded to older songs like 'Acheron' and 'Genesis'", Labrakis says. "Cult of the Serpent Sun has more songs that are fast and upbeat and help lift people's spirits".

Cult of the Serpent Sun also sharpens NITE's signature edges with fresh venom. "We play a traditional style of heavy metal, but the blackened element takes us in a different direction", Labrakis says. His road-hardened voice strikes fear into the album's serpentine foes. "Fear the night", he warns, backed by bassist Avinash Mittur, who wields his bruising Rickenbacker with a spike-gloved fist.

"'Crow (Fear the Night)' is a call to those on the edge, a beckoning cry out of the shadows into the light", says NITE. "The headbanging masses band together under a sinister banner, leaving exile and finding themselves stronger as the cult of the serpent sun rises".

The video for "Crow (Fear the Night)" was directed by Marcelle Marais (Marcellemarais.com).

Additional credits
Produced by TriTonia Films @tritoniafilms & NITE
Director of Photography - Jerome Stolly @jeromestolly
Grip & Lighting - Jerome Stolly @jeromestolly
Colorist - Chris Martin @cmartcolors
Production Assistant - Elijah Post @elijahpostdc
Properties Assistants - Kent Cates @kent_cates0402 & Miles Miller @milesmillermotors
Crow figure performed by Dave Swafford
Special thanks to First Church of the Buzzard in Oakland

On Cult of the Serpent Sun, NITE guards the altar of blackened heavy metal with sharpened blades and axes raised.