Ulver – Trolsk Sortmetall 1993 – 1997

Norwegian band, Ulver been here for quite a while – 21 years. During all this time they have moved from one genre to another, looking out for themselves, released 13 studio albums, changed their line-up and built a great fan base. Nowadays Ulver are known as an ambient/avant-garde/electronica project with special and emotional live sets but twenty years ago when they started their way as Norwegian wolves, they were quite different.  Beginning with the first full-length black metal album “Bergtatt – Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler” to “Kveldssanger” – folk fairy tale, or as the album title says itself – evening songs. In order to remember the past, save it for future and create the possibility for the fans have everything one place, Ulver have remastered and compiled their past in  a CD box set (alternatively – LP box set as well) – “Trolsk Sortmetall 1993 – 1997”.

This troll black metal box set includes one of the first their demo records – “Vargnatt”, which definitely should be a treasure for the real fan of Ulver. Together with “Bergtatt – Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler” and “Nattens Madrigal – Aatte Hymne til Ulven i Manden” it shows the darkest and fastest side of this Norwegian group. The black metal period for this band was not so long – only four years but it definitely influenced the rest of their musical career.  If anyone is willing to know why Ulver is still on a black metal label, they should check these raw and unpolished albums.

The most mellow part of the set is disc 3 – “Kveldssanger”, known as the quite famous Ulver folk studio album, which offers a great break from the dark black metal tales while listening to the all the box set tracks. This album originally was released in 1996 and already at that time showed their deep connection with Norwegian folklore and culture as well as possibility to create different, yet dark and quality music.

The last disc contains only four tracks – all of them are from rehearsals during the summer 1995, which means another raw black metal set for the die-hard fans!

A box set would not be a box set if it did not include some goodies as well. This collection of the past contains an amazing 104 page hardcover book with loads of unpublished pictures, lyrics and their translations, comments… and well, it is something worth keeping on your book shelf.

This kind of box sets/compilations are made for the dearest fans of the bands and it is definitely worth getting for those, who did not have a chance to get the first albums of Ulver and are willing to get to know band on another level.

“Trolsk Sortmetall 1993 – 1997” by Ulver is now available via Century Media.

Discs:
1. Vargnatt
2. Bergtatt – Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler
3. Kveldssanger
4. Nattens Madrigal – Aatte Hymne til Ulven i Manden
5. 4 track rehearsal, summer 1995