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 album by HULDER where Necreon fully assumes his role as co-leader, rather than just a collaborator. Drawing its roots from the ancestral 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 the sound of HULDER. The writing has become richer, drawing from a broader instrumentation: the hurdy-gurdy and the additional keyboards of 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, Vapula and Vrolok each bringing their own style to their respective tracks. The result is a rhythmic section that vibrates with the changes in atmosphere 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 everything HULDER has offered so far. For fans of BATHORY, DISSECTION, MOONSORROW. Side A: Drie Raven (Intro) / The Crowning / Thy Binding Oath / Verbolgen / ...And We Shall Sing Side B: In Blood and in Earth / Den Nacht Zijn Lied / View From Nemeton / The Glow of Dawn