First hunt for Ulvehunger.
Created by L.J. Balvaz (guitar/vocals, Disgusting, ex-Cadaver, ex-Balvaz), the project recruits K.B. Fletcher (guitar, Disgusting) then Anders Odden (bass/guitar, Cadaver, Order, formerly live for Satyricon) and Frost (drums, Satyricon, 1349, ex-Zyklon-B, ex-Gorgoroth, ex-Keep of Kalessin) to finalize Retaliation, their first album, released by Darkness Shall Rise Productions.
Black Metal roots are apparent right from the opening track, Desecrator, which benefits from a clean but hazy mix to embellish Old School riffs topped by threatening growls. There’s however a hint of cold melody as Sacrifice begins with a much more aggressive touch at full speed before letting its guitars return to heady softness, then leading us into Leave Them In Disgrace where dissonance is at work. The chaotic solo contributes to this apocalyptic ambience, which finally gives way to Consumed By Hate, where anguish is revived before the solid, cutting riffs complete the heavy basis with a few raw accelerations. The ominous approach returns on the dark Castle Of Blood, whose driving tones are reinforced by its leads but corrupted by the vocal parts, before Forces Of Doom follows, anchoring itself both in an airy atmosphere and in more ferocious bursts. Declaration Of War gets off to a fairly sedate start, but the martial approach eventually takes over and blazes to reveal its full power at breakneck speed, leaving the mad rush to continue with Rise from The Shadows. Melodic touches give the composition a completely different aspect, then the sound becomes more imposing, almost majestic with The Mighty Pentagram, then the album comes to an end with the more haunting nuances of The Covenant Of Pestilence, interspersed with moments of intense fury throughout this long composition.
Ulvehunger‘s line-up left no doubt as to the quality of their Black Metal, and Retaliation is sure to satisfy fans of grimy but relatively melodic Old School concoctions. We’re already looking forward to the sequel.
90/100