ULVER “Nattens Madrigal - Aatte Hymne Til Ulven I Manden” /GLP/

The fourth re-release of the third full-length studio album by cult Norwegian Folk Black Metal band.
From their Folkish Black Metal beginnings, to their current Post Rock/Electronic music experimentation, Ulver have always stood tall in the Norwegian music scenario. For a band of musicians to change so deeply and drastically, yet to be able to keep producing music that is so true to them and so utterly splendid, is something beyond extraordinary. "Nattens Madrigal" marks the end of an era for Ulver, namely their Folk/Black Metal period, and tops it off, not without throwing in unique elements, that would distinguish the record both from those following and from those precedeing it. If "Bergtatt" was a real work of art in combining Atmospheric Black Metal with the Norwegian folklore and Folk music, and "Kveldssanger" was a pure Folk album, "Nattens Madrigal" exhibits the Black Metal core of Ulver in its purest, rawest and most violent song, but without abandoning the Folk elements that made the fortune of the previous albums.
"Nattens Madrigal" is a sort of concept focused on the theme of lycanthropy, inspired by the traditional Norwegian tales of werewolves. The album expands the "Metal" component of Ulver's sound, but it does not fall to incorporate acoustic arpeggios and Folk melodies, making up for a unique mix of Raw Black Metal and Folk.
Musically speaking, the album is absolutely fantastic: the twin axes often play different patterns that complement each other perfectly, consisting in frantic tremolo picking or harsh chords according to the case, both soaked with significative sparks of melody, that are widely incorporated in the riffing and the acoustic parts alike. In the meanwhile, a ferocious and merciless assault is taking place behind the drum-kit, in the form of relentless and extremely fast blast beats, that offer a harsh counterpart to the aggressive yet melodic riffing. The screams are equally rabid, mostly centered around the typical mid-range of Old-school Black Metal acts, but occasionally spacing in the higher, shriek-like register. The bass lines are particularly interesting and complex, especially considering the fact that this is a Black Metal album, as they don't follow the guitars' patterns for the whole duration of the CD, but instead tend to vary quite often.
Something that "Nattens Madrigal" has become particularly infamous for is the extreme lo-fi production, with the guitar sound consisting in too many highs and the axes placed far too high in the mix, drowning the rest of the instruments, especially the bass. It was reported that much of the money Century Media Records gave the band to record it, was spent on drugs, suits, and a car, with the rest used on the album itself, resulting in the rather poor production and mastering (the band has corroborated that this was partially, though not completely, true). Upon release of the album, Century Media created an advertising campaign that claimed it was recorded "in the middle of a forest"; this, in addition to "the big labels" signing Black Metal acts, in frontman Kristoffer Rygg's eyes, made Black Metal appear cheapened and gimmicky, and was enough for him to give up Black Metal entirely. Thankfully, the re-mastered version (available in vinyl) has almost solved the problem, as the new mix allows the bass and the vocals to be clearly heard, without depriving the guitars of that extremely raw and piercing sound that some may hate, or at least need some time to get accustomed to.
"Nattens Madrigal" is a must-have and an obliged listen for any Black Metal fan: it's raw, aggressive yet melodic, furious yet evocative, and makes up for a glorious conclusion for Ulver's Black Metal trilogy. Don't miss this album for any reason!
Century Media Records Ltd./Sony Music Entertainment/De Agostini Publishing S.p.A., 1997/2002/2024 (DeAgostini 66). Made in Italy. Pressed in France.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. I - Wolf And Fear 6:16
2. II - Wolf And The Devil 6:21
3. III - Wolf And Hatred 4:48
4. IV - Wolf And Man 5:21

Side 2
5. V - Wolf And The Moon 5:14
6. VI - Wolf And Passion 5:48
7. VII - Wolf And Destiny 5:32
8. VIII - Wolf And The Night 4:38

Total playing time: 43:58 min.


https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/