ULVER — Kveldssanger (review)

ULVER — Kveldssanger album cover Album · 1996 · Non-Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
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Ulver, The Trilogie Part II: Kveldssanger (1996)

After making their groundbreaking debut album Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler (1995), Norwegian band Ulver made the unusual decision to remove the black metal elements of their music entirely on their second album Kveldssanger. Ulver is a band who later became known for having done much more work outside of metal than in, but at the time this album must surely have come as a surprise to fans of the band's debut.

Stripped back completely from what they were doing on Bergtatt and Ulver is basically left with just their dark folk elements. Vocalist Garm's role in the band is also rather reduced due to the album being mostly instrumental. There's no variance in style beyond that.

Kveldssanger is an album of roughly the same length as the previous but with many more tracks of much shorter durations. The music is pleasant and overall the length of the album is about right for it to remain enjoyable for the metalhead looking to experience a different side to the band, but for my part when I listen to the album I can't help but wonder how the ideas on display would have better fared if woven into atmospheric black metal tracks like the band were playing on Bergtatt. Many of these songs are short and don't seem to go very far before the next comes along.

Though not the first time Ulver would go fully non-metal, Kveldssanger still stands as a unique release in their discography due to being their only folk album. Out of their first three albums that traditionally form their black metal period (despite this one not having a second of metal in it) I can't really recommend it too highly. To me it seems to be more of a curiosity than anything, not really having a true place with their black metal work or later electronic based work. For those who like an 'odd one out' album though this is certainly worth a listen.
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