ALBUM REVIEW: Ritual Hymns – Worm Shepherd

WORM SHEPHERD came hurtling onto the scene in 2020 and haven’t taken their foot off the pedal since. It is little wonder how they have amassed such an adoring following in such a short stretch of time, and they are hoping to build on the foundations built by their fantastic debut album In The Wake Ov Sòl with the much-anticipated release of Ritual Hymns this January 14th via Unique Leader Records. Prepare the first aid kit as your ears are about to take a beating.

Ritual Hymns provides an intoxicating blend of orchestration and fearsome heaviness as fascinating melodies lock horns with aggressive vocal passages. The further down the rabbit hole we go the more chaos begins to unfold. Ebbing and flowing transitions keep you on your toes. Ov Sword And Nail kicks off with thunderous bass lines that usher in a wave of crushing blast beats. The abrupt tempo shifts have your head in a spin as the diverse, blood-curdling vocal work adds an additional level of violence to the mix. The Ravens Keep takes an entirely different direction with calming, clean tones and haunting singing. Don’t get too acclimated as the ferocity soon resumes. Enticing grooves will have your head banging as the symphonic instrumentation meanders in the background.

Chalice Ov Rebirth keeps proceedings firing on all cylinders with further relentless intensity. Guttural bellows send shivers down your spine. Galloping riffs combine with precise drumming to forge a match made in hell. Monstrous breakdowns come thick and fast with no sign of a reprieve. Blood Kingdom won’t offer you such a request either. Impressive guitar work snatches the spotlight, linking up with exhilarating symphonic elements to devastating effect. The hammering drum beats are enough to leave your brain rattling around in your skull. Wilted Moon follows in similar stunning fashion, assaulting your senses with zero remorse. Caustic screams alongside alluring melodies really hit that sweet spot.

The tranquil rain and soothing piano tones assist in helping you catch your breath for a brief moment before A Bird In The Dusk insists on inflicting further damage. The dramatic, incendiary pace refuses to budge an inch. The River Ov Knives is just as perilous as its title would suggest, packed full of deadly obstacles for you to navigate. Demonic growls, potent orchestration and devilishly down-tuned guitar segments form a formidable wall of sound. Winter Sun goes all guns blazing with no intention of allowing this release to depart quietly. Rapid riff work and scintillating drum sequences create a frenzy of carnage that will leave you gasping for air.

WORM SHEPHERD have left no stone unturned on this effort, bombarding you with volleys of stunning instrumentation that are a pure marvel to experience. Ritual Hymns is crammed to the brim with breath-taking musicianship and the accompanying orchestration further amplifies the brutality on show. 2021 set the benchmark but 2022 is certainly holding it’s own thus far!

Rating: 9/10

Ritual Hymns is out now via Unique Leader Records.

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