Ereb Altor have been chugging along in the viking metal underground for a while now, slowly building up a reputation as one of the most unique bands in the game, yet never straying too far from their Bathory-centric roots. While for a long time it almost felt like Ereb Altor were still struggling to find their definitive sound it feels like Ulfven is a new step for the band. Six records into their career they have unleashed something utterly transcendent, it pushes the boundaries of what viking metal can be but it also gleefully looks back into the genres triumphant past. Perfectly produced and full of fascinating musical twists and turns, Ulfven is a viking metal record that reflects the same kind of epic travail that records like Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart did. This record brings in a variety of symphonic elements, far more than Ereb Altor's previous discography ever did, but as the intro of "The Rite Of Kraka" reminds us, these guys aren't afraid to get down and dirty, ensuring this is one of the bands most potent releases to date.
Ulfven charms with its ability to balance on the edge of a knife. While on the one hand it certainly ties itself back to classic black and death metal on the other the magnitude of the compositions is something that could only really happen with modern production techniques. The beauty of the underground at present is the amount of resources finally getting poured into this art, and it allows for bold new visions to be realized by those who are willing to take the time. That's essentially what's happened with Ereb Altor, while they've always been a rather singular and fascinating band it is now that they are achieving their full potential and starting to develop a future that you can't help but want to be a part of. The cutting guitars are a fitting counterpoint to the absolutely massive choirs and synths that go on to define this record. In the end, it means that you get lost in the luscious mixes and fall ever deeper into the weird and otherworldly spells that the band so skillfully conjure.
For a viking metal nerd like me Ulfven is a record that invites you to dive in and give yourself to the music. It brings in so many elements that I love about the genre and generally does it tastefully and with excellent execution. While yes, the band certainly can grow from here I also feel like this band has refined something here that dedicated fans of the genre are going to be spinning again. Every track here feels like an ambitious composition from one of their peers, and because the music is so much further along than so many of their peers we also get the sense that their art is more fully realized. While there are still certainly some limitations, this is an impressive effort and one that you can't help but want to spend as much time as possible with. Viking metal is a dying art form, but Ulfven reinvigorates the genre. Get on it.
Score: 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDFjPWXMpTc
