Hollenthon is the symphonic death metal band of one Martin Shirenc from Pungent Stench. Debuting in 1999 with Domus Mundi, the band built itself a kvlt reputation in the underground with the follow up, the superb With Vilest of Worms I Dwell in 2001. All was quiet on the Hollenthon front after that album as Shirenc focused on putting Pungent Stench back together. However, after two lackluster Stench albums Shirenc went back to Hollenthon and Opus Magnum is the result.

It’s immediately apparent that Opus Magnum is a slightly evolved beast. The symphonic orchestral styling of this band now seems to have been merged seamlessly with the death metal on offer. There’s liberal use of choirs, synth, string arrangements and female soprano style vocals right through this album. Shirenc seems to have mastered the use of classical arrangements and a few ethnic European folk elements and he’s using it brilliantly within a catchy modern death metal feel. The guitar playing too has reached a new level and the solos on this album are pretty much the best so far on any of their albums.

It would be pointless to go through this song by song because the album is perfect. I will though, wax lyrical about the highpoint of the album, the glorious Son of Perdition. Starting with a staccato guitar riff and synth combo before the strings hit, this song is catchy as fuck and has just about every element in it that makes Opus Magnum such an awesome album. The main verse has a jumpy death metal riff before going off into an incredibly catchy chorus and then a mid tempo section with synth but all of that is before what sounds like a sampled and looped sitar and Elena Shirenc’s ethereal vocals. The song just seems to gather momentum as the opening riff becomes a motif with various folk and symphonic things happening underneath it. Also, Mrs. Shirenc’s vocals add to this song immeasurably. Fantastic.