Customer Reviews

World Ov Worms

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Combining elements and band members from Emperor, Myrkskog and Limbonic Art, it's not surprising that Zyklon has helped to reinvigorate the underground Scandinavian scene. This album takes the brutality of Emperor's material (especially older stuff), the outlandish nature of Limbonic Art, and the awesome precision of Myrkskog to develop a sound that has some of the greatest elements of black metal. Old school fans of black metal may even have a hard time placing this under such a genre title, but there does not appear to be any other label (if you must apply one) that this band deserves. 'World ov Worms' is filled with ripping music combined with the occasional industrial/synth accent to demonstrate that this band is forcing the genre to evolve. The lyrics are thoughtful yet misanthropic (considering they're mostly written by 'Faust', formerly of Emperor fame, who is now serving a lengthy jail sentence for his inability to 'play nice' with others), and Daemon helps reinforce such an atmosphere with his jagged vocals. 'Zykloned' is my favorite track off the album, but every song is horribly terrific in its own right. If you're into the Swedish and Norwegian scene and want to see what some of its greatest benefactors have come up with, I highly suggest checking out this CD.

While a good deal of Emperor's fans know that they are breaking up after releasing Prometheus (which will be amazing I'm sure), but all is not lost. Samoth (or Zamoth here) and Tyrm went ahead and formed this on the side which now I guess will become their full-time band. But that isn't a bad thing at all for while this lacks the symphonic elements that Ihsahn injected into Emperor it displays the songwriting abilities of Samoth at their peak and he is amazing in that facet. Each song is loaded with riffs from hell, dozens of sickening chord progressions and always moving at beyond light speed and faster. There are two songs with short but very well done electronic segments with female vocals over them. ex-Emperor drummer Faust wrote all the lyrics for this album and did an admirable job, thinking of some neat song titles as well (Chaos Deathcult, Storm Detonation...etc). In light of some of the excellent newer black metal arriving from Mayhem, Thorns, Satyricon, Dodheimsgard and others I feel that World Ov Worms is one of, if not the best, black metal album of the last two years. Just wait till that riff that opens Hammer Revelation lights a fire under your a** and you'll readily agree.

I bought this when it came out, gave it a perfunctory half-listen, and interred it. Listened to it today (1/13/07) and am highly impressed by its power, complexity, and velocity. You'll recognize a lot of Emperor riffs and rhythms here, for obvious reasons, but that's not bad. It's very good. Without synths and Ihsan's heroic vocals, you're left with a very heavy sound which emphasizes black metal's descent from death. The crushing Samothite guitar notwithstanding, which sounds both warm and futuristic, intentional and relaxed, it is the drumming that takes this album to the next level - fairly natural, almost acoustic sound, with a slight reverboid depth - ultimately overwhelming in density and concision. Definite Morbid Angel damage on this, but I would say that the similarities stem from a shared metaphysical perspective, rather than the more obviously shared, borrowed, or inherited aesthetic.

Burzum, Enslaved, Emperor: these are three of black metal's most prolific heavy-hitters. Each band is able to claim a place in the annals of black metal with their own unique contribution to this oft-taboo genre. So, what happens when members from these bands decide they want to expand their influence into death metal? Exhibit A: Zyklon's World Ov Worms. Of course, these guys are the only band able to get away with spelling 'of' with a 'v' and not be concerned with presenting a nu-metal image. Zyklon is the 'real thing'.

First off, expect lots of speed. Here blast beats run rampant along side buzzsaw guitars creating a raging bull of mean, death metal-influenced black metal for a new age. Moments of what can only be called the sounds of mechination punctuate eight songs of some seriously angry but seriously well-done metal. A voice says "let the death ritual begin" and is followed by gun shots, epitomizing this album's nihillistic excellence.

Unfortunately, on Aeon, Zyklon's follow up album to Worl Ov Worms, the band lost much of its unique sound and aggression, instead opting for a more brutal and mid-paced work of death metal. Lest this album be forgotten, World Ov Worms has been reissued with new art to remind us of Zyklon's contribution to the growing death/black metal crossover genre. As bands such as Behemoth, Belphegor, and, though largely (and unfortunately) inactive, Myrkskog take charge of this recently synthesized genre, in Zyklon we find a most important contribution.

A blistering and uncompromising album. Former members of the Black metal gods Emperor have created a new sound within the ashes of Emperor, whatever, buy this if you like Cephalic Carnage or Nile.

Over the years as taste changes, cynicism grips at you as a listener, viewer or reader - you try to find something that you can connect to as a person. Regardless if it's an album, book or movie, you try to recapture something that you adored once upon a time that made your blood pump faster, your brain process information faster. It's basically you as a human being hitting that perfect zen: a personal utopia where everything clicks for you...the sky opens up for you, colors become more vivid, sounds become clearer etc. While it does sound like I'm describing getting off which I'm not, certain forms of media just puts me in that zone that I described. Zyklon's debut album is like that perfect storm that comes once in a while where production, songwriting and aggression hits you like a wrecking ball made of bacon that you want to get bludgeon by it...repeatedly.

The album just starts with a sample that culminates with some broad saying "Welcome to a World of Worms" in that svelte voice and then bam! Emeril Lagasse like: the wall of noise they started hits you like pitchforks to the side of the head without any signs of relenting. The shrieks and growls from their vocalist just adds a layer of complexity that becomes more manic in its delivery as the song culminates into a breakdown that doesn't deter the song at all, but adds to it by being a sledgehammer crushing your windpipe in slow motion. The drumming and the guitar playing with its pedal to the metal routine in both musicianship and tone becomes the glue that holds such a cacophony to its relentless drive for noise nirvana.

The format for every song is identical all in all, but the way they incorporate their art in such a manner that it becomes a chaos sphere - perfectly symmetrical in its delivery time over time. While there are samples and techno beats layered in some of the songs - it doesn't become a distraction but more like a break before the vortex begins to spin again in its malevolence.

Highlights of the album are "Hammer Revelation", "Deduced to Overkill", "Chaos Deathcult" and "Transcendental War - Battle between the gods". Lyrics were written by Faust which if you want to be critical of the album was the weak point, regardless though - it added a sense of megalomania that added to the maniacal way the album sounds at it is.

While the band released two more albums with less critical acclaim and as of 2010 the band is in hiatus. World Ov Worms burned brightly that even though the flames disappeared quickly, the way it shone will always be a testament to how amazing a band that hits all cylinders can produce a masterpiece.

I guess that I bought this album in hopes that it would follow some sort of musical path that Emperor had left....it certainly does not compare. More a death metal sound than anything Black metal. This is not a bad thing but it took me several listens to get that into my head.

The lyrics are all written by former Emperor drummer Bard "Faust" Eithun and the quotes from philosphers on the inside covers show that Bard has definitely spent alot of time readign while serving his prison sentence. The guitar work is very fast paced and Destructor and Samoth make a very good pair with a distinguishable sound even with all the complex riffing. everyone should know to expect nothing less than perfection from Trym who shows every bit of why he is one of the best drummers in the business with insane blastbeats that have to be clocked musically as machine-gun triplets. Daemon's voice shines through the album....no melody at all but that is not what I wanted!

Much is to be expected when members of Limbonic Art, Emperor and Myrkskog convene for a project. The group's freshmen release, World ov Worms, exceeds those towering expectations and truly deserves its place among the top black/death metal albums of past years.

The songwriting is simply brilliant. Faust's visions and ideas pour out into lyrical form almost as a meditative manuscript, exploding eloquently and almost in spectral fashion. Truly a satisfying contrast from the plethora of metal bands whose tracks seem to consist of nothing but a three of four word "chorus," being annoyingly growled over and over again.

Daemon's vocals are convincingly vehement. Scorching through all 8 tracks, his voice never wavers as it transcends from a growl to a shriek smoothly and without hesitation.

The guitar and drum work compliment Daemon's lyrical work perfectly, and is unrelenting... pounding viciously throughout the entire album. Trym's percussion performance is second to none.

All aspects of Zyklon's work are remarkable, however World ov Worms truly sets its self apart in its multifaceted song production. Whereas some death/black metal occasionally tends to get repetitious in its thrash behavior, Zyklon breaks up their tracks nicely, throwing in some melodic riffs, tough industrial beats, and even the occasional female voiceover.

Truly an impressive work. In this worm-filled world, Zyklon pleases not only one's ears with their punishing opus, but inspires their soul and mind as well.

Im some one who cannot stand emperor,cof,mayhem,darkfuneral etc... But zyklon's music actullie sounds pretty damn good to listing to and not even a bit dissapointing at all! One of my freinds told me about them but when he had said that they were blackmetal i was like =( but then i actullie gave them a shot and i enjoyed it--very much so! Great crystal production and a realy fresh sound which im glad to hear its difirent from your typical boring and pointless blackmetal.Go buy it!

this is a very very good album. ex members(samoth, trym) ov possibly one ov the best metal acts ever EMPEROR combine forces together with daemon(izer) from the epic band LIMBONIC ART to create one ov the most pleasing and brutal pieces ov music i have ever heard. the album starts off with the absolutely crushing song hammer revelation, i believe this is the best song on the album. very fast excellent riffing and the best vocals as well are found on this track. there is so much going on with this album its hard for me to recall everything as i write this review haha. the next few songs follow the same path as hammer, but the vocals go from a higher black metal scream to more ov a old school death growl, which is ok but i feel if the vocals were screamed like on hammer throught this album gets a 5. now i LOVE death metal but i do not love his growl. the growls on AEON are much better and despite what pretty much everyone else on here says i think AEON is the best album. now back to this album, bard "faust" ex drummer from emperor as well wrote all the lyrics for this album and gave a nice description for each song about what it means and what its about. his lyrics are awesome, and i thought that was a nice bonus. mortiis also ex emperor member (there seems to be a theme here haha) lended sum funky samples which really makes this a one ov a kind experience. samoth shreds like always, tryms drumming is phenominal and daemons vocals work to make this a must have album for any fan ov death metal. a great experience! if your more into brutal death metal ( like me) then pick up AEON first. that album just crushes, not to say this doesn't but aeon is just more complete IMO. this album is by far the most unique album i own though and that alone is worth a buy, so buy them both!!