Holler (Italy) - new album from classic rockers features a cover of pop star Sia's "Chandelier"
Holler
Next in Line
Scarlet Records
23 May 2025
There’s a unique appeal to the band Holler, named after frontman Terence Holler (whose name is Mario Tarantola), formerly the vocalist for the Italian prog metal band Eldritch, with whom he performed for over 30 years and recorded 12 studio albums. Despite his legacy, both Holler and their record label make sure to underline that this new project is not prog metal. Holler marks a clear departure from Eldritch’s sound. The debut album, Reborn, released in 2024, seems designed specifically to establish this difference. Rather than continuing in the vein of prog or modern metal, Holler delivers American-style, radio-friendly, arena rock with a strong melodic hook. The only real link to the past is Terence Holler’s unmistakable voice.
Holler has more in common with classic rock than with anything happening in today’s metal scene. The music includes piano, a mix of slower and midtempo tracks, and strong vocal melodies that truly take center stage. It’s the kind of music made for singing along. In a more logical world, this album would be playing on American classic rock radio, slotted somewhere in between bands like Boston, Night Ranger, The Cars, Sammy Hagar, and Heart.
Admittedly, I didn’t connect with Holler’s debut right away, and I had a similar reaction to their second album at first. Nevertheless, I kept returning to it, mostly out of curiosity about what Terence Holler was doing after so many years with Eldritch. Over time, something clicked. It’s been a strange journey getting to that point, especially since I’ve never been the biggest fan of classic rock, but I’ve come to genuinely enjoy what Holler is doing. It’s catchy and melodic, drawing heavily from the styles of the 1970s and 1980s. To me, the new 2025 album—Holler’s second—is more accessible than their debut. One noticeable shift is the increased presence of guitars. It seems clear that Holler recognized the need to bring the guitars more to the forefront, and they’ve done just that on this record. Make no mistake, this isn’t prog metal! What Holler delivers here is a blend of classic rock and hard rock, with touches of traditional heavy metal. One standout example of heavy metal is the track “Crystal Eyes”, which leans into old-school heavy metal. That said, most of the album isn’t as heavy or fast as “Crystal Eyes.” The overall tone stays rooted in classic rock, with a balance of melody that defines Holler’s evolving sound.
Here's some fun trivia: The album also features a rock cover of pop star Sia’s hit “Chandelier”! Confession: I did not know that it is a cover when I first heard it. I just thought that it is another song on the album. Well, it is a surprisingly fitting song that brings forward Holler’s ability to reinterpret modern pop through their classic rock sound.
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