Hulder is the one-woman black metal project helmed by Marz Riesterer, who has steadily built an underground following over the past few years. If 2024’s Verses In Oath put her firmly on the radar, then Verbolgen feels like it is meant to be her arrival as one of the premier forces in the US black metal scene. With plenty of anticipation surrounding it, this is easily one of the most hotly anticipated metal releases of the summer.
Now joined by collaborator and husband Necreon, Verbolgen is a more fully realised version of Hulder’s medieval-themed, second-wave-inspired black metal. But with that more expansive vision comes a sanding down of some of the rough edges, with a bigger emphasis on atmospherics than pure black metal fury. Those wanting a more direct, full-frontal assault may be left wanting by the more restrained approach, but for my palette, I’m good with that. I really enjoy and appreciate the more atmospheric side of the black metal spectrum, and Verbolgen has plenty to offer in that department.
The witchy, ritualistic atmosphere was giving me big Wolves In The Throne Room vibes through a lot of this, though with most tracks sitting in the four-to-six-minute range, it’s a less intimidating affair and an easy listen, though no less immersive. The medieval and pagan themes are felt strongly, particularly through the use of flute, odd keys and chants, all of which complement and feed into the more forlorn guitar melodies. Importantly, these elements are buried lower in the mix rather than taking centre stage.
As someone who has often found pagan aesthetics to come off a tad cheesy on some albums, I’m cool with this. They add to the sonic identity without overwhelming, helping conjure up imagery of peasant folk toiling the fields and knights patrolling castle walls. This is particularly strong on the opening couple of tracks, where the atmosphere immediately establishes the world that Verbolgen wants you to feel.
Verbolgen is not as heavy or aggressive as Verses In Oath, but that’s not to say it’s without bite or brutality. The title track and lead single “View From Nemeton” are both furious, high-energy ass-kickers that bring some sinister riffage. Opening track “The Crowning” also has some pretty badass grooves and chord progressions, proving that Hulder hasn’t abandoned the more aggressive side of her sound so much as tempered it.
Hulder’s vocals really stand out as well, moving between deep bellows and hushed rasps. They are fucking venomous at times and are one of the standout elements of the album. The big opening shriek on the title track is so classic second-wave black metal that it would easily fit into a classic Darkthrone or Mütiilation album.
The second single, “In Blood And In Earth”, is probably the best example of this more atmospheric approach. Starting with an acoustic medieval melody before the wall of instrumentation hits, the track creates an almost spiritual feeling. It keeps a steady pace through its multilayered arrangements, creating an enchanting vibe that is incredibly easy to get lost in.
The production on this is really great, too. Black metal purists may turn their nose up at a more polished sound, but the mix is multilayered with plenty of depth and everything sounds pronounced, from the icy tremolo riffs to the crash of the cymbals. It is by no means a glossy or over-engineered record, but the cleaner production does align with the more restrained approach and allows all of those smaller details to come through.
There’s no doubt that Verbolgen is Hulder’s most expansive release to date. It is dark and sinister, but controlled and tempered rather than wild, chaotic or flashy. And while I enjoyed this a lot and I’m absolutely on board with what Hulder are doing, this never truly hits that next level as a standout.
That restraint ultimately puts a ceiling on how high Verbolgen can fly. It’s consistently enjoyable, immersive and well-crafted, but it never quite hits as super heavy, crazy or emotional as I wanted it to. The disciplined approach means there’s a limit to just how far Hulder can (or more likely – choose to) push the intensity, and after all the hype coming into this album, I was left wanting something a little more.
Verbolgen is a very good black metal album and a clear sign of Hulder’s evolution into a more expansive and fully realised project. But while I’m happy with the direction, it doesn’t quite stand out as the black metal AOTY contender that the hype had me believe it would be.
SCORE: ★★★3/4 (out of 5)
HIGHLIGHTS: The Crowning, Verbolgen, In Blood And In Earth, View From Nemeton
FOR FANS OF: Wolves In The Throne Room, Satyricon, Agalloch, Blackbraid, The VVitch as a metal album
Verbolgen is out now via 20 Buck Spin and Season of Mist.