Prophecy Productions, February 27, 2026
Genre: Avant-Garde Black Metal
Website: Hulders Ritual | Slagmaur
Duration: 39:49
Country: Norway
Cool Songs: “Huldergeist,” “Wildkatze,” “Rathkings”
Somewhere between BURZUM and THORNS lies the new album “Hulders Ritual” by the Norwegian black metal group, SLAGMAUR. Their fourth album is truly Norwegian, something the band has explored for over twenty years, plenty of time to bend and stretch ideas. Their first album “Skrekk lich Kunstler” was from a different cloth compared to their latest offering.” The sound was more avant-garde than the newest recording. “Hulders Ritual” is a much more guitar-based album than their debut.
The comparison to THORNS is not by accident. Legendary Norseman, Snorre W. Ruch of THORNS, produced the album. The production sounds like THORNS. Fuzzy guitars supplement the keyboards in atmospheric pressure. While early records were progressive and weird, “Hulders Ritual” is minimal. Much like BURZUM, the group relies on repetition hey find a good riff and beat it to death. I found the repeating boring at first, but then I listened to the album again, and these sections became hypnotic. They build riffs with subtle changes like cymbals or a fill and vocal differences.
While the riffing is repetitive and minimal, vocally the group shows different sounds throughout the recording. Female vocals, clean and harsh vocals, and weird squeaky voices make for a diverse album in the vocal department. The clean vocals combined with their Norse tongue gives some of the album a pagan feel, like hearing early ENSLAVED.
The group utilizes guest contribution by TAAKE vocalist Hoest. Also, Silenoz of DIMMU BORGIR contributes some guitar.
SLAUGMAR aren’t reinventing the wheel with “Hulders Ritual,” but are certainly doing it well. One wouldn’t expect anything different from label, Prophecy Productions, home to ARCTURUS, whom SLAUGMAUR was compared to in the bio. It’s a comparison that can’t really be debated. It’s there and it’s obvious. For those who still get goosebumps listening to good Black Metal, “Hulders Ritual is pure Norse perfection. Get it or quit it!
Line-up:
Wardr – Drums, Keyboards
General Gribbsphiler – Guitars, Bass
Dr. Von Hellreich – Vocals
Tracklist:
Ritual Dogs
Wildkatze
Huldergeist
Hexen Herjer
Warlok
Rathkings
Rating: 9/10
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