Hulder – Verses in Oath (Review)

This is the second album from US one-woman black metal band Hulder.

2022’s The Eternal Fanfare grew on me over time the more I listened to it, so I’ve been looking forward to Verses in Oath. I’m pleased to say that it has met my expectations.

Verses in Oath offers a grander, more majestic version of Hulder. The music is a cold and frozen manifestation of the 90s second wave, (with a pinch of death metal in places), given authentic life and dark atmospheric depth by an artist who clearly knows the style well. The music is well-written and delivers a very satisfying experience for lovers of the classic template.

There are 40 minutes of material of Verses in Oath, and it’s clear from the start that the album is steeped in old-school trappings. It’s a hostile and unfriendly listen, but the raw aggression on display is tempered by a skilled vision for black metal darkness. Speed is a dominant factor in the album’s potency, but the times when the music slows down also showcase the artist’s grasp of mid-paced atmosphere, which is especially effective on the a track like the mighty Hearken the End.

You’ll find much to become enamoured with over the course of Verses in Oath. There are intense scything riffs that are razor sharp, coupled with blackened groove that drips with midnight supremacy. There are effective melodies deployed that combine the epic and the malevolent. Keyboards add icy grandeur, sometimes taking to the fore as on the highly immersive An Offering. The primary gruff vocals are harsh and unforgiving, and one of the more unusual, yet distinctive of Hulder’s assets. Sparingly used clean singing enriches the immersive mood when it appears, and adds a further layer of majestic grace.

Yes, Verses in Oath is a strong and enjoyable slice of black metal art. Apart from the utterly pointless and overly long intro, there’s little to complain about here. The artist behind Hulder has crafted a record that’s extremely easy to like if you’re a fan of traditional black metal. Verses in Oath blends majesty and aggression with superlative ability.

Very highly recommended for fans of bands such as Immortal, Satyricon, Gorgoroth, Enthroned, Mayhem, etc.