Review ULVER “Liminal Animals”

One of the most unpredictable bands today is Ulver from Norway. Founded in 1993 as a harsh and wild black metal outfit, the band has been constantly on the move when it comes to sounds. Ulver, the wolves, have continually reinvented their own brand, making innovation and transformation the hallmark of the Norwegian sound innovators.

With “Liminal Animals” Ulver release their 13th studio album, a longplayer with nine songs. Driven by founder Kristoffer Rygg and his longtime companion Jørn H. Sværen, the group takes another step into the world of new wave-inspired synthpop that has nothing to do with the early days. What sets Ulver apart from many other bands is the enormous willpower to follow their own musical vision.

The latest release isn’t exactly a new album, as it contains songs the band has released in the last twelve months as unpromoted singles, starting with “Ghost Entry”, which was introduced in December 2023, while “The Red Light” closes the circle in October 2024. Now it is “Liminal Animals” that features these songs and also offers three new tracks.

“Liminal Animals” is another experimental album that provides songs with depth and at the same time reveals their addictive element right away. It doesn’t matter if you listen to atmospheric compositions like “Hollywood Babylon” and “Ghost Entry”, the latter being the album’s opener, or the dark “A City in the Skies”. Each of these tunes is a gem that shines brightly. Also worth a listen is the vibrant “The Red Light”, while the real highlight comes at the end.

“Helian (Trakt) is the album’s closer and it is an 11-minute masterpiece of ambient electro-pop/rock. Accompanied by a dark wave of synth sounds, the beginning features narrative vocals that, together with a rather hypnotic rhythm, sound fascinating but also create an eerie atmosphere. This song is a masterpiece.

Ulver continue their journey into the undiscovered realms of music. Experimental sounds and avant-garde style is what resonates with each of these songs. Ulver create a very special and unique atmosphere with their music that allows the listener to enter a world of sounds that is a pleasure to listen to.