Ulver, one of the most respected and talented outfits in the Norwegian scene, possess ridiculous amounts of genius and creativity rivaled only by fellow masters of black art Emperor and Satyricon. Each Ulver release is dramatically different from the next; ranging from the haunting, majestic beauty of their debut, 'Bergtatt', to the folkish acoustic instrumental album 'Kveldssanger', and most recently, their ventures into the world of bizarre electronica. Before leaving the realms of metal, however, Ulver did manage to compose one of the most brilliant pieces of music ever recorded, 1997's The Madrigal of the Night (subtitled Eight Hymns to the Wolf in Man).

The lyrical theme presented here explores the plight of the werewolf, damned by the curse of lycanthropy to wander the wintry nights in search of human prey. The music expresses this theme very convincingly, portraying the savage nature of the beast through a vicious yet melodic attack. The lyrics are in archaic Danish, thankfully accompanied by an English translation.

Featured here are the raging vocals of the mighty Garm, who has also done time in Arcturus as well as gracing the first two Borknagar albums. His trademark operatics aren't to be found here, opting instead for the pure blinding rage of harsh, biting screams. Rest assured his presence is still felt quite strongly, only adding to the overwhelming atmosphere found within these eight tracks.

The production is extremely raw and dirty, so much so that rumors had circulated that the recording took place outside in a forest (this is of course not true). The guitars are the most prominent instrument in the mix, armed with razor-sharp distortion so trebly that your eardrums will be beging for mercy. This is a worthy sacrifice, however, when experiencing some of the most intriguing, spellbinding riffs ever created. Surprisingly audible is the bass guitar, as most black metal releases tend to downplay this underappreciated instrument.

Completely mesmerizing and all-consuming, this is a prime example of the stunning art that can be achieved through the black metal medium. Recommended for fans of fast, atmospheric metal, this album is without a doubt a classic.

This review is credited to:
incipitsatan