Ulvik - Cascades (2021)

Hailing from Northern Canada, today we have Ulvik and their hypnotic Atmospheric Black Metal release “Cascades”. With elements from outfits like Wolves in the Throne Room, Saor, and similar bands, this release unleashes over 30 minutes of punishing BM filled with lush atmospheric elements and an eerie vibe. If you like meticulously constructed music that is both brutal and engages all your senses, this is the album for you.

Opening with the expansive “Baaltis”, we are treated to an unsettling calm in the first few minutes that slowly escalates into blistering guitars, harsh screams, and very hypnotic drum patterns. As this track dramatically scales back and turns into a lush cinematic experience, “Nokhur” follows up with unapologetic rawness. We particularly enjoy how the ‘clam’ interlude allows for some respite just before more hellish vocals and dissonant guitars disrupt the flow of things.

The next onslaught with “Huis Clos” perfectly pairs expertly layered guitars with a throbbing bass guitar line and a very intense sense of urgency. This track creates a very unique atmosphere of distress that is only exacerbated by the lush and ritualistic passages. Our personal favorite track is the intense “Allmachtiger” and its dramatic atmospherics alongside its doomy aggression and crafty drumming.

Saving the best for last, the dreamy and ethereal nature of “Salt of the Earth” left us with great expectations of what is to come in the future for this outfit. Ulvik is a band that nicely combines elements from bands in the genre but has managed to craft their own unique and powerful sound. If you like moody, melancholic, and at the same time aggressive music, this release will certainly catch you by surprise.

Label: Avantgarde Music

Release: July 13th, 2021

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Canada