What makes Ritual Hymns by Worm Shepherd notable?

'Ritual Hymns' quickly garnered attention within the metal community, receiving positive reviews for its intricate compositions and emotional depth. The album's impact was further solidified by its chart performance on various metal charts, establishing Worm Shepherd as a noteworthy contender in the genre. Released on January 14, 2022, 'Ritual Hymns' is Worm Shepherd's debut album, marking their entry into the deathcore scene. Prior to this release, the band had built a reputation through singles and EPs, showcasing their unique fusion of melodic elements with traditional deathcore aggression.

How many songs are on Ritual Hymns?

Ritual Hymns has 9 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Ritual Hymns

Worm Shepherd · 2022

51 min · 9 tracks · deathcore

A relentless blend of guttural vocals and atmospheric instrumentation, creating an immersive journey through darkness and despair.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Ritual Hymns — The opening track sets the tone for the entire album with its haunting melodies and aggressive breakdowns, encapsulating the band's thematic exploration of darkness.
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Chalice ov Rebirth — This track features a powerful mix of melody and heaviness, illustrating Worm Shepherd's ability to blend emotional depth with technical prowess.
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Blood Kingdom — With its epic length and dynamic shifts, this song represents the band's ambition, combining intricate musicianship with intense lyrical themes about struggle and survival.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

51 /100

Foothills

Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and a strong atmospheric presence, marking a solid debut in the deathcore genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that sets a dark, atmospheric tone, followed by tracks that maintain a relentless pace with few breaks.
Several tracks incorporate ambient interludes that contrast with the heavier sections, creating dynamic shifts in intensity.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Ritual Hymns 6:40
2 Ov Sword and Nail 4:04
3 The Raven’s Keep 5:17
4 Chalice ov Rebirth 4:03
5 Blood Kingdom 7:14
6 Wilted Moon 4:39
7 A Bird in the Dusk 6:15
8 The River ov Knives 5:15
9 Winter Sun 8:19

What to play next

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Hunger

2024

Go back to

In the Wake ov Sòl

2020

Full Worm Shepherd discography Artists like Worm Shepherd

deathcore

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata