Review: Hulder’s Verses In Oath Strikes at the Very Heart of Black Metal
Channeling the very essence of classic black metal with their sophomore release, Hulder‘s new album Verses In Oath makes a statement. Out tomorrow via 20 Buck Spin, the band recorded the album with a bleak Northwestern winter as its backdrop that you can almost hear blowing through its 40 minute runtime.
This slate of new tracks definitely conveys the kind of cold and frigid vibe you’d get traipsing through a dark wood in the middle of the night. The drums for Verses in Oath were recorded at The Underworld Studios, and all other audio was recorded at De Pestkerk Studios. The mix and master were handled by Ahti Kortelainen of Tico Tico Studios in Finland.
“Hearken the End” kicks things off with some super-memorable riffing combined with master work on the keyboard. It marries clean vocals with harsh as only black metal can. The title track is definitely that for a reason, as it’s one of the most memorable on the record. It has a haunting lyrical quality reminiscent of early black metal bands in their heyday.
While short and sweet, “Lamentation” and “An Offering” have a strange, haunting edge to them, as if warning you of what is to come before “Cast Into the Well of Remembrance” crashes through the other side as definitely the heaviest song on the record. It’s sad, yet crushing. When the track speeds up, it feels like an outburst of despair. “Vessel of Suffering” is another standout track, calling up the old-school vibes and keeping things eternally heavy.
Overall, this is the perfect record for the black metal purist who is tired of only listening to records from the ’90s. This is definitely recommended listening for anyone who calls themself a fan of the genre, and while Hulder has always been impressive, this album outdoes their past work.
Hulder’s Verses In Oath comes out tomorrow, February 9 via 20 Buck Spin but you can preorder your copy today.
You can also check out Hulder live this year on the Decibel Magazine Tour with Worm, Devil Master, and Necrofier. Dates and locations below.
2/21/2024 Goldfield Trading Post — Roseville, CA
2/22/2024 Thee Stork Club — Oakland, CA
2/23/2024 Echoplex — Los Angeles, CA
2/24/2024 Brick by Brick — San Diego, CA
2/25/2024 The Nile — Mesa, AZ
2/27/2024 Empire Control Room — Austin, TX
2/28/2024 Trees — Dallas, TX
3/01/2024 The Masquerade — Atlanta, GA
3/02/2024 The Abbey — Orlando, FL
3/03/2024 Gramps — Miami, FL
3/05/2024 Hangar 1819 — Greensboro, NC
3/06/2024 Baltimore Soundstage — Baltimore, MD
3/08/2024 Underground Arts — Philadelphia, PA
3/09/2024 Brooklyn Monarch — Brooklyn, NY
3/10/2024 The Middle East — Boston, MA
3/12/2024 Preserving Underground — Pittsburgh, PA
3/13/2024 Grog Shop — Cleveland, OH
3/14/2024 Magic Stick — Detroit, MI
3/15/2024 Reggies — Chicago, IL
3/16/2024 Red Flag — St. Louis, MO
3/17/2024 The Bottleneck — Lawrence, KS
3/18/2024 HQ — Denver, CO
