Review
Underpinned by the thick production of Thorns mastermind Snorre W. Ruch, Slagmaur’s Hulders Ritual emerges from a nine-year hiatus as a menacing, mid-tempo march. The record leans into the classic aesthetics of Norwegian black metal, balancing cold, traditional riffs with folklore-infused, theatrical grandeur.
Critics emphasize the record's dual nature, finding a space where "barbarism and beauty entwine". Tracks like "Wildkatze" capture early-era Norwegian frost, while mid-paced highlights like "Hexen Herjer" showcase "a grimy, pitch-black heart beating with pure evil". Guided by "delightfully savage" vocal assaults from a revolving door of guest vocalists, the album's ancient-sounding density succeeds as a meticulously paced, suffocating assault.
