Hollenthon

J. · February 1st, 2005, 09:15 PM

Rediscovered Hollenthon's two albums just recently while going through my collection.

Wow. I don't remember these albums sounding so fresh. Great folkish symphonic epic death metal.

They should be ready to release their next album, but I guess with Martin Schirenc having just released the latest Pungent Stench and Mike Groeger being busy with the new Summoning, they haven't been able to fit it in.

But man, having been in a slump recently when it comes to metal, it's nice to rediscover albums you have kind of written off.

Anyone else dig this band?

JayKeeley · February 1st, 2005, 10:08 PM

I have "With Vilest Worms to Dwell". I remember reading a review for it on metal-observer, they gave it a 10/10 omgwtf kind of review. I really like it, but for some reason, it has this built-in amnesiac thing where I listen to it and then immediately forget everything about it that I liked.

That's either very clever or very crap. Either way, you're right, it sounds fresh each time you pop it into the CD player. In fact, I'm now going to listen to it shortly and then compare it to some Therion that PJ sent me.

J. · February 1st, 2005, 10:22 PM

10/10, eh? While I don't think it's a 10/10 (more like a 7 or 7.5), I really dig it simply because.....well, nobody else sounds like this.

While Therion is the obvious comparison, Therion never quite melded death metal with their symphonic moments except maybe on Lepaca Kliffoth and very, very little on Symphony Masses (my fave from them). Theli abandoned the death growls altogether, which is also the album they brought forth the symphony stuff.

Domus Mundi, the debut, is quite good too, and probably a little more brutal and more folky. Hell, track 5 is an instrumental that could fit on a Cruachan album.

JayKeeley · February 1st, 2005, 10:24 PM

Taken from librarius....

Therion began as a fairly interesting death metal band, though nothing I personally took interest in. That all changed when they released "Theli" (described by founder Christopher as the music they had always meant to do but couldn't afford) and became the kings of classical metal. Each subsquent release saw Therion incorporating more classical elements, including choirs, violins, and other classical instruments. Truly, one of the most original and interesting bands in metal, and one of my personal favorites.

Interesting how Therion only now seem to be making the music they originally intended. Funny what a lack of budget can do.

J. · February 2nd, 2005, 08:48 AM

When it comes to Therion, fans seem split between the death metal era and the heavy metal muzak they now play. A shame that Therion has basically written off their death metal albums, as they are far more interesting and pretty damn good.

Still, I don't think any Therion album is as good as the two Hollenthon albums, but Symphony Masses comes close.

Lee_B · February 2nd, 2005, 01:08 PM

Hollenthon seems permenantly on hold I'm afraid. I was in Vienna a couple of years back with Martin and he had an idea of giving some classic 70's rock the Hollenthon treatment but it's never happened and the website hasn't been updated for over a year it seems.

A real shame. I like the way he worked with this, almost in a tecno / house music fashion. He would start with a few samples and the riffs would be worked around those rather than adding the samples later.

J. · February 2nd, 2005, 01:25 PM

Damn. I would have loved to see what direction he would take Hollenthon. Hopefully he will find time in the future. Unless he starts some newer projects he should have plenty of time since Pungent Stench and Kreuzweg Ost have both completed new albums. That is unless PS starts touring.

70's rock + symphonic folk death metal. I would like to hear that.

Opeth17 · February 3rd, 2005, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.

Great folkish symphonic epic death metal.

What the crap? I need to hear this.

Captain Beard · February 3rd, 2005, 12:14 AM

Yes you do.

J. · February 3rd, 2005, 12:21 AM

Yeah Opeth17, you'll probably dig it. Just know it's not super brutal, and when I say "symphonic", I'm not talking about synth sounds or keyboards, I'm talking that it sounds like a symphony, with horns, flutes, etc. Though those sounds are created through keyboards, samples, whatever, and not a real symphony.

It really tasty, catchy stuff.

ct_thrash · February 7th, 2005, 11:11 AM

<3 domus mundi

J. · February 7th, 2005, 11:14 AM

Indeedy doo. I prefer Domus Mundi over WVoWtD, but both are vastly original and worth owning.

February 1st, 2005, 09:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	Hollenthon Rediscovered Hollenthon's two albums just recently while going through my collection. Wow. I don't remember these albums sounding so fresh. Great folkish symphonic epic death metal. They should be ready to release their next album, but I guess with Martin Schirenc having just released the latest Pungent Stench and Mike Groeger being busy with the new Summoning, they haven't been able to fit it in. But man, having been in a slump recently when it comes to metal, it's nice to rediscover albums you have kind of written off. Anyone else dig this band? __________________

February 1st, 2005, 10:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	10/10, eh? While I don't think it's a 10/10 (more like a 7 or 7.5), I really dig it simply because.....well, nobody else sounds like this. While Therion is the obvious comparison, Therion never quite melded death metal with their symphonic moments except maybe on Lepaca Kliffoth and very, very little on Symphony Masses (my fave from them). Theli abandoned the death growls altogether, which is also the album they brought forth the symphony stuff. Domus Mundi, the debut, is quite good too, and probably a little more brutal and more folky. Hell, track 5 is an instrumental that could fit on a Cruachan album. __________________

February 2nd, 2005, 08:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	When it comes to Therion, fans seem split between the death metal era and the heavy metal muzak they now play. A shame that Therion has basically written off their death metal albums, as they are far more interesting and pretty damn good. Still, I don't think any Therion album is as good as the two Hollenthon albums, but Symphony Masses comes close. __________________

February 2nd, 2005, 01:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lee_B Readin' me posts are ya? Join Date: May 2001 Location: Surbiton. The Posh bit Posts: 4,944	Hollenthon seems permenantly on hold I'm afraid. I was in Vienna a couple of years back with Martin and he had an idea of giving some classic 70's rock the Hollenthon treatment but it's never happened and the website hasn't been updated for over a year it seems. A real shame. I like the way he worked with this, almost in a tecno / house music fashion. He would start with a few samples and the riffs would be worked around those rather than adding the samples later. __________________

February 2nd, 2005, 01:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	Damn. I would have loved to see what direction he would take Hollenthon. Hopefully he will find time in the future. Unless he starts some newer projects he should have plenty of time since Pungent Stench and Kreuzweg Ost have both completed new albums. That is unless PS starts touring. 70's rock + symphonic folk death metal. I would like to hear that. __________________

February 1st, 2005, 10:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
JayKeeley Be still, O wand'rer! Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 26,085	I have "With Vilest Worms to Dwell". I remember reading a review for it on metal-observer, they gave it a 10/10 omgwtf kind of review. I really like it, but for some reason, it has this built-in amnesiac thing where I listen to it and then immediately forget everything about it that I liked. That's either very clever or very crap. Either way, you're right, it sounds fresh each time you pop it into the CD player. In fact, I'm now going to listen to it shortly and then compare it to some Therion that PJ sent me.

February 1st, 2005, 10:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
JayKeeley Be still, O wand'rer! Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 26,085	Taken from librarius.... Therion began as a fairly interesting death metal band, though nothing I personally took interest in. That all changed when they released "Theli" (described by founder Christopher as the music they had always meant to do but couldn't afford) and became the kings of classical metal. Each subsquent release saw Therion incorporating more classical elements, including choirs, violins, and other classical instruments. Truly, one of the most original and interesting bands in metal, and one of my personal favorites. Interesting how Therion only now seem to be making the music they originally intended. Funny what a lack of budget can do.

February 3rd, 2005, 12:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Captain Beard Bearded baby puncher. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: The House of the Rising Sard. Posts: 23,303	Yes you do. __________________

February 3rd, 2005, 12:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	Yeah Opeth17, you'll probably dig it. Just know it's not super brutal, and when I say "symphonic", I'm not talking about synth sounds or keyboards, I'm talking that it sounds like a symphony, with horns, flutes, etc. Though those sounds are created through keyboards, samples, whatever, and not a real symphony. It really tasty, catchy stuff. __________________

February 7th, 2005, 11:11 AM	#11 (permalink)
ct_thrash Meat Con Artist Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tejas Posts: 19,012	<3 domus mundi __________________ Originally Posted by lizard: "but if toilets were actually jack in the boxes, a clown would be thrust violently upward into your colon."

February 7th, 2005, 11:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
J. Anti-Funderground Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Woodlands Posts: 21,064	Indeedy doo. I prefer Domus Mundi over WVoWtD, but both are vastly original and worth owning. __________________