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THE REVIEW
The Hollenthon are an Austrian band (in fact, the name comes from a village in their country) led by the talented Martin Schirenc who plays all instruments except for the drums, played by Mike Groeger. With Vilest of Worms to Dwell is their second album, following their debut Domus Mundi in 1999.
It is difficult to define the sound of the band: let's say they play symphonic death (with a beautiful brass section!) with strong Thrash and Power influences. The strength of Hollenthon is precisely this: their ability to blend many different genres, surprising the listener.
The CD opens with the beautiful "Y Draig Goch." It opens and continues with the distinctive mix of guitars and orchestrations that characterizes the entire platter. The brass is splendid and inspired! Martin's growl is excellent. "Woe to the Defeated" begins with a fusion of keyboards and guitars. It's a very dark and slow track, where choirs and oriental influences take center stage.
When the third track, "Lords Of Bedlam" starts, I jump from my seat: I've heard this piece before! In reality, it is a reworking of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Another note of merit goes to the trombones. Unexpected but perfect: brilliant! "To Kingdom Come," a very happy piece, opens with majestic choirs and continues with very catchy riffs. The growl, choirs, and female vocals alternate. "The Calm Before the Storm" is a slow and melodic track, influenced by folk, where Martin's clean vocals dominate. "Fire Upon The Blade" begins with a very symphonic part, like a soundtrack, and then the growl and guitars emerge. The interlude where the female voices take the forefront is splendid. "Conquest Demise" is a very dark and melodic piece sung with clean vocals. The interlude solo and the intricate finale are beautiful. The CD closes with "Cospirator" which shows a certain goth attitude. The track alternates between dark keyboards, choirs, and orchestrations throughout.
It's a pity that Hollenthon is a semi-unknown band because this CD deserves to be listened to by all metalheads.
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Summary by Bot
Hollenthon's second album, With Vilest of Worms to Dwell, is praised for its unique blend of symphonic death metal with thrash and power influences. The album features intricate orchestration, brass sections, and a variety of vocal styles. Tracks like 'Lords of Bedlam' cleverly rework classical pieces, adding to the album's originality. The reviewer laments that the band remains semi-unknown despite delivering a compelling metal experience.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Hollenthon
Hollenthon is an Austrian band blending symphonic and melodic death metal with orchestral and choral elements. Led by Martin Schirenc, with drums by Mike Groeger, they released Domus Mundi (1999), With Vilest of Worms to Dwell, and the darker, bombastic Opus Magnum (2008), plus the EP Tyrants and Wraiths.02 Reviews
