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Ulver
Vargnatt


2.0
poor

Review

by fireaboveicebelow USER (107 Reviews)
December 28th, 2008 | 28 replies


Release Date: 1993 | Tracklist


Every band starts out writing pretty uninteresting songs, and it’s expected since they are undeveloped and haven’t had time to blossom their talents. In order to get their name out, a band has two choices: work their asses off touring and promoting until they land some sort of record contract (unless they self-produce already) or record a bunch of demos and send them to every label they know, hoping for some big break. In Ulver’s case, they chose the latter path. However, when mentioned that beginning bands can write low-quality material, this is the feature that makes me wonder how Ulver got signed in the first place.

First of all, raw black metal was obviously the thing to do in Norway during the early 90’s, which gives a reason to why Ulver started this way. This demo was recorded in Fenriz’s mom’s loft (as were many demos of bands in the area), dubbed “Necro Hell” according to Garm…the production is abominable, to put it simply. It’s worse than Transylvanian Hunger, it’s worse than Nattens Madrigal, it’s even worse than Kids Bop, seriously you cannot hear a single note the guitars are playing when distorted, let alone the drums sounding like boxes and kitchen pots for cymbals, and the bass is nonexistent. The vocals are probably the worst performance I’ve heard by anyone ever, reminiscent of the dude from The Leprechaun movie, even the giggling. The cleans are utterly hilarious opera vocals, and do not fit at all. It really doesn’t help that all the lyrics are in Norwegian, because it makes everything sound that much more ridiculous.

Musically, there’s nothing interesting except for Trollskogen, which is an acoustic instrumental, so the sound is pretty bearable. Everything else is beyond average black metal with only two different tempos: mid-paced and the fast-as-we-can-play pace. It’s hard to see how a promoter saw potential in this band, but thank god he did, because Ulver’s future is nothing but quality. This is only worth checking out if you want to see the prelude to Bergtatt…or just for a laugh.



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user ratings (96)
2.8
good
other reviews of this album
Lambda (2)
...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Willie
Moderator
December 28th 2008


20311 Comments


This is why I just avoid black metal demos. Nice review.

username345
December 28th 2008


594 Comments


I've listened to a live version of 'Vargnatt' on youtube. I quite liked it actually though it wasn't really that great. I might look into this sometime, 'Bergtatt' is my favourite bm album, and in my top 3 albums ever (sometimes no 1)

fireaboveicebelow
December 28th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I bet the live version is a lot better, I'll go listen to it

BallsToTheWall
December 28th 2008


51611 Comments


What did you eat in December? I'll have what you're having. Good review.

DeathThrashProg
December 28th 2008


498 Comments


I don't get why whenever i go to one of your reviews, it has 1 neg. They're all good reviews!

fireaboveicebelow
December 28th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

lol thanks, I dunno either but whatever I'm not doing this for amazing approval ratings

Balls, I had eggnog and pitzellas

Wizard
December 28th 2008


20569 Comments


Of course some Ulver nut negged this good review. What the hell?

Anyways, I see you've been on a bit of an Ulver binge lately (me too hahaha). In terms of production (which you discussed briefly in the review), how does this hold up to Nattens Madrigal (in terms of sloppy production)? All you say is that its worse but I still think NM is pretty bad.

charlesfishowitz
December 28th 2008


1792 Comments


[quote=fireaboveicebelow]Balls, I had eggnog and pitzellas[/quote]

more like NEGnog

fireaboveicebelow
December 28th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

In terms of production (which you discussed briefly in the review), how does this hold up to Nattens Madrigal (in terms of sloppy production)? All you say is that its worse but I still think NM is pretty bad.
the production on Nattens Madrigal is like Wintersun compared to this



and yeah I've been on a huge Ulver binge, plus I want to review Lykantropen Themes soon but I have no idea what the hell it is really



EDIT: nevermind I found the short film, this should be coolThis Message Edited On 12.28.08

Willie
Moderator
December 28th 2008


20311 Comments


it's a soundtrack to a movie. I can't remember if it's a real movie or just "imagined".

Wizard
December 28th 2008


20569 Comments


the production on Nattens Madrigal is like Wintersun compared to this


Wow, I need to hear this then hahaha.


fireaboveicebelow
December 28th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I can't remember if it's a real movie or just "imagined".
well it must be real since I'm watching it right now haha...its only a half hour though, its like a thriller sort of, strange as hell, almost no dialogue

Willie
Moderator
December 28th 2008


20311 Comments


Well there you go than ;) Do you have the soundtrack to that movie already?

fireaboveicebelow
December 28th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

yep, very nice, I've been listening to it all last week, but now I'm on an ...and Oceans binge

Essence
December 28th 2008


6740 Comments


[quote=charlesfishowitz]more like NEGnog[/quote]


luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul

McP3000
December 29th 2008


4121 Comments


production sounds pretty lol

want to listen now

Asiatic667
December 29th 2008


4651 Comments


funny review, man

fireaboveicebelow
December 29th 2008


6835 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

I didn't think so but ok I'll take it





what is this negnog you speak of, charles?This Message Edited On 12.29.08

Lappo
August 15th 2009


89 Comments


the 2009 remaster is -significantly- better

I'm wondering if it's actually a re-recording or something; it sounds -that- different

eternium
November 24th 2012


16358 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Based on a few YouTube videos (not of the remastered tracks), this actually sounds rather awesome.



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