Avalanche of Worms
| Avalanche of Worms | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Levi / Werstler | |
| Released | April 20, 2010 |
| Genre | Rock, metal, experimental |
| Length | 41:13 |
| Label | Magna Carta Records |
| Producer | Emil Werstler, Eyal Levi |
Avalanche of Worms is the debut studio album of Levi / Werstler, a collaboration between guitarists Emil Werstler and Eyal Levi (then joint guitarists of the American death metal group Dååth).[1] Released on Magna Carta Records[2] in 2010,[1] the album features twelve all instrumental rock-metal tracks.[1] Both Levi and Werstler produced the album, which also features contributions from guest artists such as drummer Sean Reinert. The album was praised in the press for its "dazzling display of fretboard pyrotechnics,"[3][4] as well as its experimental and unique nature.[3]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Blabbermouth | (8.5/10)[3] |
Ryan Ogle of Blabbermouth gave the album a glowing review and a score of 8.5/10, writing that the two guitarists had composed and recorded a "dazzling display of fretboard pyrotechnics."[3] He further opined that the album was an "incredibly unique and diverse piece of work. For 41 minutes, the pair pushes the boundaries in several directions at once, taking elements of prog, metal, avant-garde, classical, jazz and experimentalism to varying heights both in their respective contexts and as a wild, yet listenable, cornucopia of styles. From start to finish, Avalanche Of Words an enjoyably indefinable exercise in creativity."[3]
Phil Freeman of AllMusic gave the album a more mixed review, calling it an "impressive as hell" technical achievement, but arguing the "endless shredding solos" and experimental sound textures could have been substituted more often with "memorable melodies or hooks."[4] Despite his own positive review, Ogle of Blabbermouth agreed that the album was "not something the everyday fan (metal or otherwise) is going to latch onto," though he praised the artists for focusing on "creating music for the sake of creating music," as compared to marketability.[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Noxious Vermin, My Friend" | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Dura Mater" | 4:09 |
| 3. | "Obsidian Fissure" | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Plague House" | 4:13 |
| 5. | "In Amethyst, Through Moldavite" | 4:09 |
| 6. | "Trellis Of Thorns" | 1:16 |
| 7. | "Hollow Thorax Of The Gilded Eye" | 1:58 |
| 8. | "Loathsome Little Fiend" | 4:52 |
| 9. | "Trepanation & Bliss" | 0:48 |
| 10. | "Architectural Necrosis" | 5:21 |
| 11. | "Casting The Molten Sea" | 5:52 |
| 12. | "Chrysalis Wound" | 1:09 |
Personnel
- Emil Werstler - guitars, primary artist, producer
- Eyal Levi - guitars, primary artist, producer, engineer
- Kevin Scott - bass
- Sean Reinert - drums
- Eric Guenther - keyboards, piano, synthesizer
- Maor Appelbaum - mastering
- Mark Lewis - mixing
- John Hiler - drum engineering
- Jorden Haley - artwork, layout
- Adrienne Darnell - photography
References
- 1 2 3 Warnock, Matt (July 4, 2010). "Emil Werstler Interview: Avalanche of Worms". Guitar International. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ↑ Avalanche of Worms on Magna Carta Records
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ogle, Ryan (2011). "LEVI/WERSTLER". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- 1 2 3 Freeman, Phil (2010). "Eyal Levi / Emil Werstler". Allmusic. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
External links
- Avalanche of Worms on Magna Carta Records
- Avalanche of Worms at AllMusic
- Avalanche of Worms at Discogs