Hollenthon – Opus Magnum (2008)

The music of Hollenthon is what happens when you give a synthesizer to the demented Grandmaster Flesh (A.K.A Martin Schirenc) from Pungent Stench fame.  The band’s sound can be defined as an epic symphony of madness, the music I would probably hear in my head if I was confined to a mental institution. This release was in the making for 7 years, and it was well worth the wait.

Behind the majestic orchestral arrangements of this album there is a great diversity of vocal arrangements ranging from harsh vocals to choirs that perfectly complement the music. The metal aspect of the music is a very important side of the band, since they don’t step away from crunchy guitar riffs and great drumming to give more power to the orchestral arrangements. This is one of the main selling points of this band for me, the fusion between the symphonic aspect and the metal aspect, creating an epic symphonic. They don’t over do it like Haggard, but they still sound epic enough.

The eight compositions featured in this album are enough to keep me busy for a few years for their next release. Every time I listen to this album, I find new and exciting things to pay attention to. This release has everything I could hope for: great orchestral arrangements, awesome guitar lines, perfectly drum sequences, and great variety of vocals.

“Opus Magnum” is everything the title says and more. I would definitely recommend this to anybody trying to find something new and fresh to listen to, but that has a underlying metal structure to it.

Country: Finland