Hollenthon - Opus Magnum
(Napalm Records, 2008)

I've always been one for something a little out of the ordinary. I'm the kind of person that says, 'hey, surprise me!' and I dare say that is exactly the kind of call that Austrian extreme metal band Hollenthon have strived to answer in the making of their new album, 'Opus Magnum'. In my eyes, extreme music was always the name given to the heaviest of the heavy. Death metal, black metal, grindcore...all of these fitted neatly into the selective category. After hearing this album I feel a little differently. Hollenthon aren't particularly heavy (by death metal standards that it), they aren't outrageously fast, but they are extreme music simply because they are so outlandishly different to everything else. You could call it experimental, but that suggests a wild uncoordinated feel to the music. I tell you now, Hollenthon is as refined as it gets, a form of music that has been honed and perfected since the last album some 7 years ago...Hollenthon are back and they want to show us what they can do...

One of the defining features of Hollenthon's music is the symphonic element but as with everything else to do with this band, symphonic isn't a strong enough word to accurately describe what this music sounds like. It is much more as though the band have an entire symphony orchestra behind them, creating epic orchestrations which will quite literally have you struggling to stay on you feet! The first track is full of these dramatic orchestrations yet, somehow, the guitar still creeps though whipping the range of heavy riffs and backing instruments to an intensely heavy song; topped off with a mixture of harsh and operatic vocals creating truly impressive atmosphere. Usually with a release of this standard it is hard to pick out a favourite from the pack, but this time one song stood out above the rest in my mind. Without a doubt my favourite song is 'Sons of Perdition'. I enjoy it for it's cheesy introduction as well as some enormously powerful riff making from the guitar end of the shop. It, along wit h 'Once we were kings', defines what this album is about: true, unadulterated power mixed with stunning melody.

Overall...this album is, mind the cliché, a breath of fresh air. It reminds me of why I love metal so much, and why I will never cease to love it. The album represents the metal world; heavy, over the top, catchy and just plain awesome. A definite for fans of Equilibrium, which is the only band I have really been able to find which compares in musical style to Hollenthon, and also for all those who occasionally like to put on a bit of folk metal, have a drink and dance the night away! This band is the epitome of 'fun', but they can do what 'fun' alone can't...make a seriously decent album!

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Lewis Klein