Review
French duo Eihwar’s sophomore effort ramps up the thumping club energy, pairing tagelharpa and shamanic chants with modern dance beats. Writers note that Hugrheim leans more heavily into electronic structures than its predecessor, shifting what was once a raw ritual into a "writhing mass of chaos" that has "been very carefully and skillfully crafted from the ground up." This pivot from primal folk to "EDM-type beats" shapes an album that feels as much at home in a sweat-drenched rave as a forest bonfire.
However, the transition comes at a cost, with several reviewers pointing out the record's reliance on structural loops. The performance can occasionally feel "riddled with a ton of repetitions," prompting comparisons to "being in a club at 3 am without the possibility of escape." Still, the consensus remains that Eihwar successfully expands their lore with "anomalous intensity," offering an infectious, hybrid style that injects visceral fun back into a historically solemn genre.
