Customer Reviews

With Vilest of Worms to Dwell

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is some of the best and most creative stuff I've heard in the epic metal scene for a while. A lot of people are comparing the sound of Hollenthon to Tristania and Therion, but I don't think those comparisons are quite accurate. While similarities between the sounds can't be mistaken, there are certain ethnic qualities and stylistic nuances in Hollenthon that simply aren't present in any of the above mentioned bands. This is not to say that Hollenthon is better than Tristania or Therion, simply that it's different and more unique than what it's getting credit for. Much of Hollenthon's sounds encompasses fantasy themes (especially on this disc), but takes multiple approaches to performing the music. It is definitely true that Hollenthon's first disc, "Domus Mundi", had much more variety (considering it included anything from Egyptian & Middle Eastern chord structures to Irish Folk music), but the more focused emphasis here on simply an epic sound is very appealing.

For those unaware, Hollenthon is the sole project of Martin Schirenc, especially known for his contribution in the band Pungent Stench. His wife provides the female vocals, and he includes a few other individuals to help out occasionally with percussion and other instruments. If you're very much into big, expansive soundscapes and epic metal featuring anything from backing operatic vocals and string instruments to death metal growls, crunching guitars and pummeling drums then I would say you should DEFINITELY check out Hollenthon.

Stand out tracks for me are "Y Draig Goch", "Woe To The Defeated", and "Fire Upon The Blade".

This is a big album. Not the length but the through the roof compositions. I might go as far as to say it is as epic as Luca Turilli..Prophet of the last eclipse, my favorite album. Hollenthon comes close. Martin Schirenc is the mastermind behind the guitar,keyboard,bass,and vocals(shared with his wife who also wrote the lyrics).Mike Groeger did the drums and percussion. Y Draig Goch(translates in welch to the red dragon)and Fire Upon the Blade are immediate standout tracks. Anyway,do yourself a favor and do not let your brain turn to mush listening to mainstream,money making,non-artistic shizzle. Purchase this album and sleep easier knowing you are now full of hardcore awesomeness.

With Vilest of Worms to Dwell is one of the best albums I've ever heard. Hollenthon's first outing showed promise and this one delivers. How does this album sound? Think of Dark Tranquility melodies, think of Dimmu Borgir's orchestration, add a touch of Therion and package it all in rich and complex instrumentation.

The first track Y draig goch sets the mood with a furious guitar riff joined by a host of instruments like violins and trumpets. This is one of those albums where you can spot something new on every listen simply because there are layers and layers of instrumentation. There are a few weak moments like the folk singing on the start of the second track Woe to the Defeated and even those weak moments are not too bad. The vocals are normally growls with the occasional clean choruses and it goes very well with the music. I personally find Conspirator with its epic choirs at the end, to be the standout track .

For those who like lyrics to make sense, this album offers that as well. Lyricist Elena (Martin Shirenc's wife) has written a fantasy story. The title for this album is probably inspired from Shakespeare's sonnet 71 where the character shows his fear of death and having to dwell with the vilest of worms after death.

The CD booklet is excellent as well with some really interesting artwork. You really cannot ask for more value for money.

Undeniably a more solid performance for Hollenthon, this one seems to have more focus musically, in that the variation is not as austere as in "Domus Mundi." Rather, this album is perhaps to some degree a bit more linear as it's strung together tautly by similar song structures and melodies that tie each song together and thus prevents the same erratic nature encountered on the first album. This entire album is a pounding sensation of catchy riffs intertwined with other musical instruments and vocal arrangements that add an overall ominous feel. After bobbing your head to a wonderful riff, you're quickly halted in mid-bang by the sudden change in tempo. As such, this album also offers surprises that are a bit unexpected but not at all unwelcome. Throughout each listen, I can't help to think that this would perhaps be the soundtrack for earth's final days, since it certainly has that apocalyptic tone. It's stupefying as to why this band has never received any attention beyond the praise of the few lucky souls that have discovered this gem.

Please note, these guys are not like pungent stench. No offence to most metal, but I think I'm growing out of it due to the same old, same old bs that everybody is doing over and over again.

If you're at all like me, you like your music to be full of new surprises, and not conventional commercial metal that everybody seems to be jocking lately. You've come to the right place.

This band completely blows my mind with their synthesized violins giving the metal music a new edge and making it sound completely epic, while the clean vocals make the album seem more of a rock album than a metal one at times. The female vocals are intense as well, and certainly not overdone. The reason I gave this album 5 stars is because of how different every track is - some are fast upbeat tracks while others are sludgy with a battle-like essence to the music. Some are happy sounding, some sad, but they all tend to hit my spine and give it chills just the same.

One standout track, to me would be the second track, entitled 'Woe to the Defeated'. It starts off with martin's singing chant of some other language, with a rocklike guitar piece and slower drums, and then it turns into the full-forced metal song, yielding faster drums, and sounding more like a metal song, maybe even a little conventional at first. And then out of nowhere the chorus breaks in and there's a mixture of both screams and epic singing, but neither is too overdone.

Bottom line is, every song on this CD is carefully handcrafted to perfection, and since their last cd, this one has had quite a quality boost (Their debut sounded like they made it on some crappy computer). Overall, amazing CD, and despite the quality of their debut, check that one out too. It's got a little more of an array of different culture's music throughout every musical piece, but both cd's are equally good in their own way.

Buy them both!

What is most difficult to grasp about this band is that it really isn't a "band" at all but rather the brainchild of one person. All instruments (with the exception of drums -- and a 19 second solo on one song) are played by Martin Schrenc (not sure on the spelling). All vocals with the exception of some well placed female vocals (his wife by the way)and use of samples for the chior, are again by Martin. This cd is amazing to listen to. The other reviews pretty much cover the styles of metal on the cd but what they fail to mention is that the production -- again by Martin -- is also excellent -- the entire cd was recorded in a studio in his house! I was vaguely reminded of older Therion (Theli era) but it would be oversimplifying things to say that this band sounds like any other. Buy the cd and be amazed. I haven't been able to turn it off since I got it in the mail two days ago -- 12 full listens and counting.

OK, I'll get straight to the main features. You get Driving, melodic, dramatic, marriage of metal and orchestral music, with choiral chanting, deep vocals and some normal,lots of harmonies, great recording production, a myriad of musical influences,eg; medieval,classical,death metal,doom metal,ethnic etc. And it's a good balance, with the strength and depth of musicianship being better than a lot of more "well known" feeble attempts at mixing many genre's.

If THERION had only three band members and used synthetic sounds instead of a symphony orchestra, it would sound similar to this. But the truth is, if I didn't just tell you that the trumpets and other sounds are all synthetic, you would have thought they were real, because it is all pulled off so well.

Some of my favorite tracks:

"Y Draig Goch" is a very good opening track, full of atmosphere. When I hear the trumpets at the end I can't help but think of a large battle involving giant war elephants.

"Lords of Bedlam" starts off with an awesome classical-sounding intro that sounds as good as some of the stuff I've heard by RICHARD WAGNER.

"Fire Upon the Blade" makes me think at times of a giant monster attacking a city, stepping on people and knocking buildings down like they were toy blocks.

"Conspirator" has some haunting female cries that make me think of banshees, sirens or female ghosts in a graveyard at midnight.

Some other alternatives/comparisons to Hollenthon would be THERION or maybe even HAGGARD, in regards to the symphonic/operatic style of the songs. Some of the songs are also visual and epic like you would hear from TURISAS. I didn't really hear any Middle-Eastern sounds in this album, but apparently their last album did (which I haven't gotten ahold of yet), but if Middle-Eastern themed metal along these same lines is your thing then I also recommend the Israeli band ORPHANED LAND.

The price for this CD is a bit steep and the music changes quite frequently, which would make it really hard to judge by listening to 30-second music samples. Also, out of the 8 tracks, there were only 4 that I really liked. But for me at least, these 4 are exceptionally well done. They're creative, different and full of atmosphere, not to mention they sound great. This is a great CD to have if you want to play something in your CD player at work that will make people say, "Hey, what band is *this*?!"

This is an unbelievable album. I would easily put this along side Beatles Revolver, Pink Floyd Dark side of the moon, Judas Priest Stained Class, and Metallica's Master of Puppets.

No kidding. An absolute masterpiece. BUY IT NOW!!! What are you waiting for?!

THE NEW HOLLENTHON ALBUM "WITH VILEST OF WORMS..." IS A REAL KICK IN THE PANTS. THEIR FIRST ALBUM WAS GREAT BUT THIS ONE IS OUT STANDING. IT'S NOT LIKE ANY THING ELSE OUT THERE IN THE METAL WORLD. IF YOU'RE GETTING SICK OF THE SAME OLD STUFF GIVE THIS A SHOT. YOU WON'T BE SORRY.