Search - Hollenthon :: With Vilest of Worms to Dwell

BIG ... epic ..Insanely awesome..DEATH TO FALSE METAL!

N. anderson | Parker, CO USA | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Wicked!

Vinod Bhat | Sunnyvale, CA, USA | 01/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Not for the closed minded

Earcandy | 05/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"