Album Review: Worm Shepherd – Ritual Hymns (Unique Leader Records)

Hailing from Massachusetts, USA, Worm Shepherd have a resolute affinity for all things oppressive and atmospheric. Their new opus ‘Ritual Hymns’ will be released on the 14th of January 2021 via Unique Leader Records.

It’s bands like Worm Shepherd, amongst many others, that have made Unique Leader Records such a trusted name in the world of extreme metal. Chances are, if you’re on that label, you’re good and more than likely to be excessively brutal and heavy.

Statements that apply to Worm Shepherd who bring forth an explosive medley of noise on their new album, Ritual Hymns.

A hefty release, Worm Shepherd create a clamour based around an unremitting assault of technical death metal. Like some unearthly and futuristic monstrosity, it is fused with black metal, twisted by symphonic elements, and often gets out of control as the band showcase slam touches too.

Sounds pretty insane, right? Oh, it is but what it also is, is really freaking persuasive. Really impactful, really exciting and really striking. Through the sheer dominance of melodic detail and a wrathful style of heaviness, Worm Shepherd enter 2022 with an early contender for album of the year.

Bold? Maybe but the thing that makes this more than just your average extreme release is how it combines so many varied elements and still comes out sounding immense. Any structural fails are on purpose, Worm Shepherd allowing the lack of control to possess and contort their sound into something even more aggressive.

Worm Shepherd – Ritual Hymns Full Track Listing:

1. Ritual Hymns
2. Ov Sword and Nail
3. The Raven’s Keep
4. Chalice ov Rebirth
5. Blood Kingdom
6. Wilted Moon
7. A Bird in the Dusk
8. The River ov Knives
9. Winter Sun

Links

Facebook | Spotify | Instagram | BandCamp | YouTube