Hulder – Verses In Oath Review

There is a strange comfort in seclusion. Indeed, you’re aware by now that I’m no psychologist. Hell, I’m barely at liberty to talk to you about the state of my psyche. But I remember routinely fishing and camping with my dad many moons ago. To this day, I can still sense the security of being surrounded by the subtle sounds of whistling winds and water nudging the banks of the lake and the faint sight of trees dancing in the blackness of night. It probably gave me the same mentality as a vacation or weekend getaway. For a moment, suspended in time, I could develop a temporary bout of amnesia, forgetting the realities that awaited me back home. In many ways, it offered the same escapism that music did and still does for me. And I developed my love for music on those trips. I used to fall asleep to Metallica’s…And Justice for All—on cassette—in the camper. Great memories.

Years later, I started connecting with the heavier side of music. There was something special about black metal, especially in creating a superb atmosphere and a deeply immersive listening experience. I was captivated, which remains valid as it stands near the top of my favorite subgenres list. A few years ago, the black metal project Hulder, whose origins lie within the confines of the secluded Pacific Northwest, popped up on my radar and reminded me of those days in the middle of nowhere. Oh, and I could pretend I was Jon Snow while listening to it while hiking.  

All jokes aside, I had a hunch that the project could potentially ascend the genre rankings in terms of popularity following the release of its opus Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry. I specifically remember having the main riffs from “Upon Frigid Winds” and “Creature of Demonic Majesty” lodged in my brain for days after my inaugural listen. Circling back to the significance of atmosphere and immersion, Hulder beautifully weaved a tapestry of woodland soundscapes and medieval arpeggios, most notably on “De Dijle.” Hulder’s trajectory continued with the release of the EP The Eternal Fanfare, yet another stepping stone on the project’s road to notoriety. I look back on those two releases very fondly, and now, in hindsight, they were brilliant precursors to the project’s newest offering, Verses in Oath.

Verses in Oath is precisely what many of you would expect from Hulder, and I say that in a very positive light. Right out of the vine-infested and rusted gate, a crow mourns into the winds of a brewing storm on the intro track, “An Elegy,” as the build-up to our first taste of the dark medieval black metal album, “Boughs Ablaze.” If you’re unfamiliar with the band, you’ll find it clear here that Hulder’s closest relatives are the malevolent creators of the dark arts from the second wave of Norwegian black metal. Still, the production helps mold Hulder into a contemporary, fresh-sounding project from the 2020s. The riffs’ pace on “Boughs Ablaze” allows for respite between the arrangements, a firm reminder that Hulder excels so much in songwriting, and you’re so submerged in the moment that it’s nearly impossible not to feel bonded to the tunes. This echoes throughout the album. But that’s not to say moments of fire-starting speeds aren’t present—they’re there—just meticulously placed.

Throughout Verses in Oath, the vocals are cold, ethereal, and thicker than the debut, even when you’re met with the almost Enya-like clean singing at the beginning of “Hearken the End.” In what will undoubtedly be a standout track, “Hearken…” keeps a mid-pace as it sways back and forth like a passé dance, still finding heaviness in even the non-traditional black metal moments. The title track, “Verses in Oath,” marks a return to a more traditional black metal style with layered guitars and synths and a memorable drum performance that feels perfectly placed within the mix as it doesn’t drown out the true spectacle of Hulder’s catchy six-string work. The following two tracks will return memories of moments off Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry‘s “A Forlorn Peasant’s Hymn.” “Lamentation,” the album’s interlude, is an eerie, crackling, turn-of-the-century record sample before it merges into “An Offering,” the boldest move by the band thus far. It’s a soft song, entirely of traditional singing, which might fit perfectly on a Grouper record. It’s addictive and beautiful, adding such a welcomed dynamic.  

Then, we’re met with tracks like the sorrowful “Cast into the Well of Remembrance.” There is an emotional weight—almost a more extreme sister track to “An Offering”—that stages Hulder’s keen attention to the linear assembly of the album. Each track enhances its successor, and the chapters flow like wind through wheat fields. Arguably, the heaviest portion of the album occurs during the final 15 minutes, beginning with “Vessel of Suffering” before the enigmatic “Enchanted Steel” captures the spirit of the grimoire. Hulder dives headfirst into war on “Veil of Penitence,” capturing the clinging and echoes of claymores and longswords during a medieval battle. The rhythm section shines on this track, assisting with an anxious tone that consistently builds until the record fades into the distance.

Earlier, I said Verses in Oath is just what you’d expect from Hulder, and it’s true to an extent. If you’re a fan of the band, walking into this album, you should expect it to outperform the debut and subsequent EP because that’s been the band’s cadence thus far. And that’s exactly what we have here. But if you’re unfamiliar with Hulder or struggled to connect with the initial releases, I’d actually advise you to expect the unexpected. At the very least, this LP is worthy of a first listen. Hulder’s songs are so well-written here, and the album is so well-constructed that any black metal fan will find something that fulfills that yearning for sonic melancholy. Holistically, Verses in Oath is a black metal album for fans of yesteryear and now. It’s a dark, captivating medieval journey worth embarking on. To put it bluntly, Hulder is a great band, and Verses… is a great album—the project’s most profound effort yet. So, dive in. You’ll be glad you did.