REVIEW: Battlesnake - Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd

Bands that can tell stories throughout their albums are always great to listen to, and Battlesnake are no exception within the genre. Becoming widely known across Europe and the UK last year, the band is not only bringing their new and highly anticipated album Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd with them this summer, but are also playing numerous shows across the continent, including a headline show at the iconic Underworld in Camden, and sets at the Download and ArcTanGent festivals in June and August.

Offering the best mixture of elements from bands like Queen, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, the listeners are in for a treat with Dawn Of The Exultants… and its eleven colourful tracks. The seven-piece Australian band uses various transitions and filler tracks throughout the album, such as 'Dawn Of The Exultants', 'Beelzebug’s Nativity', 'Fowl of the South' and 'The Borning of the G', to narrate their upcoming songs for the listeners. During the opening track of the release, 'Dawn Of The Exultants', the band use their time to build into a full intro on “The Fathers of Iron Flesh”, pulling the audience right into the storyline. With the usage of choral vocals in the background and a gradually peaking intensity, the band achieve a memorable first impression. The same impression is present in the second narrative 'Beelzebug’s Nativity' too, with the usage of similar melodic sounds.

On the other hand, 'Fowl of the South' and 'The Borning of the G' surprise the listeners with different soundscapes. In 'Fowl of the South', the band decided to use bagpipes, a surprisingly simple yet staple choice, which gives the song more dimensions throughout. Paired up with the sounds of rain and thunderstorm in the background, the track gives the listeners a short glimpse into the diverse world of Battlesnake. Meanwhile 'The Borning of the G' serves a quick yet noble close-up accompanied by trumpets.

Throughout the different songs on the album, the listeners are met with various usages of guitars, drums, bass and other instruments, as well as vocals. The first full-length track, 'The Fathers of Iron Flesh', is an energetic blend of sharp riffs and catchy lyrics, often referencing religious characters such as Jesus, bringing up head-banging breakdowns. In contrast to this, the track 'Beelzebug II', as well as 'Murder Machine', shows off sounds typical of legends Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, showing off the band’s angrier side that's more prominent across the album. Diving into the world of kooky synths and endless guitar possibilities, the band absolutely pays homage to some well-known bands, while taking their own approach.

The absolute highlight of the whole project, however, is the final song 'Moto Exordium', which is not only beautifully composed but also lasts for impressive six minutes and fifty-four seconds, holding the title of the longest song on the album. The band bring back their religious motifs from the beginning of the album, paired up with slower, yet hauntingly powerful melodies, and simultaneously give a spotlight to the guitar work throughout the whole track - although this is most prevalent at the end, where the instruments blend into intimate harmonies.

The album was meticulously planned from beginning to end, including the order of each of the tracks, and it is a perfect mix of full-length tracks and fillers, giving the listeners a chance to understand the story behind the release more. The only downside would be the ever-changing topics that can sometimes seem chaotic, however if the listener does not pay attention to the lyrics and just enjoys the music itself then this is not a big problem and wouldn't affect the listener’s experience. Dawn Of The Exultants… is absolutely one of the best pieces released this year thus far, and the wait for it was more than worth it!

Score: 9/10

Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd was released on June 6th 2025.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Battlesnake