This is the latest offering from Ulver. It is a 2 CD set, that comes in a slip case and some beautiful packaging. I was really curious to see what Ulver would do after "Natten's Madrigal", because I read somewhere that they would be calling it quits after that album, since it was the end in their "trilogy". What we have here is a completely new band, indeed. In my opinion, Ulver is a band who likes to fuck with people and piss them off (which I think this hilarious, BTW). Let me explain (and then I'll get on with the review)...their first CD, "Bergtatt", was amazing atmospheric Black Metal with unreal clean vocals that almost sounded like "Gregorian Chant". This was hailed throughout the entire scene as being one of the best bands to emerge. Next they released "Kveldsanger", which was just all acoustic guitar and some clean vocals. People may have thought this was kind of *odd*, but at the same time they still hailed it as amazing, because it showed that Ulver was a band of real musical skill and atmosphere. At this point, Century Suck (Black) decided that it would be a good idea to sign Ulver and cash in on their atmospheric nature. They gave Ulver a huge studio budget for the recording of their third album. Now, being the jokers that they are, Ulver recorded the album on a 4 track, getting the shittiest production ever to exist. And what happened with the studio money? They spent that on new suits and a car, and took those press pictures (in case you were wondering why they took those pictures in the first place). Of course, when Natten's Madrigal came out, a lot of little wimps were whining about how Ulver is "false", and how they are trying to establish themselves as "true" by releasing that on such a big record label. Well, what they didn't know was that Ulver directly fucked Century Black right in the ass, and now they won't even DISTRIBUTE Ulver, Arcturus, or any of their side projects. Ahem...okay, on with the review.

I personally haven't read much of William Blake's work, but that's what this album is based off. The first disc is along the lines of Techno/Industrial with mostly spoken word throughout the songs. On the track "Song of Liberty", guest vocal appearances are made by Fenriz and Ihsahn. All in all the first disc is excellent...but it's best to take it from beginning to the end. That way you get fully absorbed in it's building, etc...

The second disc is more of the "music" disc. Oh, by the way, don't expect any Black Metal anywhere on here, because you won't find it. Anyway, the music on disc #2 also ranges from sort of techno-ish industrial/metal/rock. It's really hard for me to describe. I suppose you could say that it is "Mainstream", but the fact that it is on Jester Records, and has ZERO distribution, completely makes that irrelevant.

Ever since I heard it was coming out, I waited for this album most impatiently. Now I have it, and I must say I am not the LEAST bit disappointed, yet I may be in the minority. Having not found a good Black Metal release in over a year now, I have been listening to other forms of music (yes, you can get the Gallows ready for my arrival now, all ye who are TrueT and Elite©), so I am now open to releases such as this. It's fucking brilliant, and I bet that if it was under the name of Darkthrone instead of Ulver, all the elitists would be hailing it. But as for me, I feel I have 3 choices...

1. Buy cheeseball SHITE like the new Emperor or Dimmu Borgir
2. Stay "true" by listening to bands who have a trash production, and are essentially just cloning old greats like Darkthrone & Beherit, thus have no way in fuck of progressing one bit. (Don't get me wrong, I love all the old greats, but there's no point whatsoever in cloning them.)
OR
3. Grow up and move on.

I have chosen #3, much to some people's dismay, which is why I will continue to appreciate albums such as this one and the Arcturus remix, as well as various other styles of music.

When something good dies, don't try to bring it back to life...just remember it how it once was.

© 1998 atrox666