Review HULDER ‘Verses in Oath’

Hulder have their sophomore album ready for a launch. After having unleashed the debut album in 2021 the outfit has a next package of atmospheric black metal songs ready, all summed up under the banner of ‘Verses in Oath’.

Right in time with the ongoing winter frost, Hulder brings their hellish sounds to shine and what the new album will contain is what the single ‘Vessel of Suffering’ indicated. In less than four minutes Hulder have chosen a very representative and raging songs which mirrors the trademark sound of the band. Furious and with a very dense sound, ‘Vessel of Suffering’ unfolds its blackened soul immediately.

Photo: Liana Rakijian

Hulder, who is originally from Belgium before moving to the US, recorded nine songs while it is an intro called ‘An Elegy’ with a crow being the main protagonist. Slowly the wind of decay gets stronger and it’s the interaction of both which creates a cold-hearted atmosphere. What comes next is with ‘Boughs Ablaze’ a wild black metal song with high-speed blasts that alternate with moderate moments.

The epic tune on the album is the dramatic ‘Hearken the End’ which also found a spot in the top half of the track listing. Melancholy, darkness and decay, it all blends during these seven-minute elegy. Slowly and steady the devilish atmosphere of the song darkens your soul and it is not only the length of the track that makes ‘Hearken the End’ to a Malmstrom-like highlight of the album.

Hulder deliver with ‘Verses in Oath’ a black metal monolith. Light and sunrays is what you won’t find on this release. It is more the echoing hellfire that spreads its evil twilight and covers your soul for at least 40 minutes.