Verbolgen

Description

HULDER is an American black metal project born from the creative collaboration between Hulder and Necreon. Their three previous albums have gradually steered the project towards broader and more collaborative territories. ‘Verbolgen’, released jointly by Season of Mist and 20 Buck Spin, marks a decisive turning point: it is the first HULDER album where Necreon fully assumes his role as co-leader, rather than just a collaborator. Drawing its roots from the ancient cult of nature, sacred rites, and the shadows of pre-Christian traditions, ‘Verbolgen’ unfolds in nine tracks that explore both the rigor and the strange winter beauty that characterize HULDER's sound. The songwriting has evolved, drawing from a broader instrumentation: the hurdy-gurdy and additional keyboards by Keld lend an almost processional solemnity to certain passages, while Ianuaria's flute hovers over the album like smoke over calm water. Two drummers share the album, with Vapula and Vrolok each bringing their own style to their respective tracks. The result is a rhythm section that vibrates with the shifts in mood and tempo. The mixing, done by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico studio in Finland, gives the album a raw and deep sound, perfectly aligned with its themes: blood, earth, and settling old debts. Even the visual identity marks a turning point: the cover, painted by Morrigan, is her first creation for a metal band in nearly thirty years, and the logo has been modernized by Jannicke Wiese Hansen. Three of the songs are sung in Flemish, giving ‘Verbolgen’ a unique incantatory dimension that sets it apart from anything HULDER has offered so far. For fans of BATHORY, DISSECTION, MOONSORROW.