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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Zantera on March 13, 2010, 12:37:48 PM
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Searched around a bit on the forums, didn't find a thread for this.
First of all, amazing group which i accidentally stumbled a bit upon a month ago or something.
Being a fan of Agalloch, obviously i've heard about Ulver many times in different places, i remember reading about the song "I am the wooden doors", and "the intro is very Ulver-ish".
Obviously i thought it sounded interesting, but i didn't check it out until i saw Portrucci mentioning them on these forums, knowing that he has awesome taste in music.
So obviously, i just HAD to get my hands on Perdition City.
My expectations/thoughts about this album beforehand was far from what i would experience, i expected Ulver to be a black metal-ish band like Agalloch, but with electronic influences rather than the doom/folk that Agalloch has.
Listened to Perdition City the first time, and it was like "BOOM!".
I seriously listened to it 2-3 times before drawing the conclusion "hey, this isn't what i expected.. this is something else, something amazing".
So apparently the first Ulver releases are black metal-ish, but i'm so glad they didn't sound like what i had expected.
It was better, and even though i'm only familiar with that album and "Shadows of the sun", i still consider this band amongst my favorites.
Perdition City is at least in my top5 favorite-albums ever, and it just takes me to so many places in my head, places i connect with some of the songs.
For instance, when listening to the ending-part of "Dead City Centres" (the part with the talking voice) i really got a flashback to the Max Payne-games, and more specifically the fun-park place where Mona Sax has her hideout.
Overall, an album that is a true masterpiece.
Appreciate this amazing band here, also.. any recommendations on what album i should focus on next? :)
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Perdition City is amazing
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Glad that you like it! Ulver are just an amazing band. One of the truly "progressive" bands in the literal sense. From black metal, to folk acoustic, to avant-garde, to electronica, trip hop, ambient, soundtrack etc. And they can pull it all off. Perdition City remains in my top 5 albums from all time and I too get the dark video game vibe of Perfect Dark, Max Payne etc. Love it ;D
I like all their albums really though they are all quite different. My 2nd favourite of theirs is probably Svidd Neger. A soundtrack they did for a Norwegian movie. Just superb music, a mix between cool jazz, electronica and modern classical would be the best description I could give. Another choice is Blood Inside. It's not as mellow and minimalist as Shadows so it's probably easier to get into, a great listening experience :) You also couldn't go wrong with their debut Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler. One of the clearest influences on Agalloch's style, it's black metal with folk acoustic parts and clean vocals mixed in. Really ahead of its time for 1994. :tup
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I saw an interview last night with Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg. Cool dude just like Ulver are cool too :hat
Can you believe he was 16 when Ulver made Bergtatt? :o
I only had time to listen to their black metal 'trilogy' yesterday. I actually Audiosurfed Nattens Madrigal which made me enjoy it more.
Their switch to electronic was a good decision actually :hat
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Perdition City is amazing
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Ulver are amazing, one of only a handful of bands who I would say have more than one 5-star album (Perdition City and Blood Inside). But most of their albums are excellent (I really like their more laid back ones like A Quick Fix of Melancholy and Shadows of the Sun) and they just change so much from album to album that you never know what to expect.
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I haven't listened to all of their stuff, but the variety of music that they have produced (at the level with which they have produced it) is astonishing.
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Great to see more appreciation, also i found a text somewhere on the internet that they have a release planned for this year, and i quote from the discography: "Psyche (2010)".
If there's any truth in that, this means awesome news. :)
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Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!
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Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!
awesome! get back with update :)
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Listened 3 times....
:omg:
I'll get the later two albums soon, but want to let it settle and listen to something more upbeat. Herro Devin Townsend :laugh:
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I really love, like Portrucci pointed out... the variety in the Ulver-sound.
EOS is such a beautiful masterpiece, one of the saddest songs i've heard, but it's far from the sound on Perdition City.
Also, gotta praise "Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses", i love it.
The singing on the end <3
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The singing on the end <3
Indeed, I wish that Garm would get the hell back into a reunited Arcturus :angry:
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Picked up Perdition City from a record store today, got shocked when i saw it.
Seriously, even though they're at least a bit famous (and from Norway, aka. very close to Sweden) it was pretty surprising.
Found it under "Metal", still awesome though.
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Picked up Perdition City from a record store today, got shocked when i saw it.
Seriously, even though they're at least a bit famous (and from Norway, aka. very close to Sweden) it was pretty surprising.
Found it under "Metal", still awesome though.
Wow nice :tup :tup I had to order it online, zero chance of finding it anywhere in Australia :sadpanda:
But also, DO WANT
(https://www.neseblodrecords.com/cutenews/data/upimages/ulver_002.JPG)
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Wow nice :tup :tup I had to order it online, zero chance of finding it anywhere in Australia :sadpanda:
But also, DO WANT
(https://www.neseblodrecords.com/cutenews/data/upimages/ulver_002.JPG)
DO WANT! o_O
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I've been into this band for a while now, Perdition City is just awesome and Blood Inside are maybe the best. Garm is a technological bad-ass.
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Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different :azn:
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Blood Inside is actually an album i haven't quite gotten blown away by yet.
Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are amazing, i also really like Svidd Neger.
Bergtatt is also pretty epic, mostly because of the story behind it. :)
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Blood Inside is actually an album i haven't quite gotten blown away by yet.
Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are amazing, i also really like Svidd Neger.
Bergtatt is also pretty epic, mostly because of the story behind it. :)
Yeah, Blood Inside didn't click for me for ages. I probably didn't listen to it for a few months after I first got it. It's quite intimidating, sort of a wall of sound. But persist! It is one of there best. Also, I wasn't insinuating that I don't like Shadows of The Sun, I fucking love it :biggrin: and I will probably love the new album what ever it is, because im a massive fanboy
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I really love the chill-factor on Shadows of the Sun.
It's one of my favorite albums to listen to, when i just want beautiful & subtle music.
"EOS" was an instant favorite, but i gotta say i love "All the Love" + "Like Music", those 2 songs melt into each other in a wonderful way, and might be my highlight of the album. :D
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God damn it. I just wanted to listen to Dressed In Black and I ended up listening to the whole of Blood Inside. That happens every damn time :lol unknowingly as well!
Anyway, just bumped to say, Dressed In Black is amazing. I love the tense build up and the EPIC AS FUCK piano part. Gives me chills. Carry on gentlemen :hat
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Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different :azn:
Not sure what you mean by that. Shadows of the Sun isn't like anything else they've done (except A Quick Fix, but that was only an EP), so I don't why you feel that they're comfortable with that style. It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol
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It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol
AMEN to that! :)
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Ok, I am quite familiar with their discography now, and all I can say is I hope their new album is something completely different. I have a bad suspicion that it's going to be Shadows of The Sun mk 2, since the guys seem pretty comfortable with this style, but I still hope for something more upbeat and energetic like Blood Inside...but different :azn:
Not sure what you mean by that. Shadows of the Sun isn't like anything else they've done (except A Quick Fix, but that was only an EP), so I don't why you feel that they're comfortable with that style. It's Ulver, they never do the same thing two albums in a row. :lol
Just a hunch. From reading nearly all recent interviews with Garm/Ulver I could find.
But beleive me, I would expect them to do something quite different. And to do it quite well :millahhhh
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btw, here is a GREAT interview with the guys from November 09. Do read it! (if you haven't already)
https://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=127
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I got Shadows Of The Sun a few days ago. Very strong release imo; Eos and What Happened? are nothing short of beautiful. Have to listen to the other songs a few more times, though.
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I love Shadows of the Sun, lovely mellow and atmospheric album! :tup
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I love Shadows of the Sun, lovely mellow and atmospheric album! :tup
It's my favorite Ulver-album together with Perdition City.
Simply amazing. :)
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My favourites are Perdition City and Blood Inside, but SotS is very close behind.
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I never got into Perdition City quite like everyone else did. I just found it kind of bland. But I DO love Shadows of the Sun. REALLY love.
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I'm personally a HUGE fan of the black metal trilogy, and I have a few of the electronic albums (Perdition City, Blood Inside) and they're great too :tup
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Bumping this thread because I've started to really get into Ulver recently and they seem to me to be one of the most consistent, innovative and just plain awesome bands around today. Perdition City and Blood Inside are both near-perfect albums, and the others I have, Bergtatt, Kveldssanger and Shadows Of The Sun are all absolutely incredible as well (and I don't even like most black metal, in regards to the first, though it is very different). It's too early to say anything right now, but I think they'll quite easily make it to my top ten favorite artists in music list.
Any news on Psyche?
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Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!
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Bumping this thread because I've started to really get into Ulver recently and they seem to me to be one of the most consistent, innovative and just plain awesome bands around today. Perdition City and Blood Inside are both near-perfect albums, and the others I have, Bergtatt, Kveldssanger and Shadows Of The Sun are all absolutely incredible as well (and I don't even like most black metal, in regards to the first, though it is very different). It's too early to say anything right now, but I think they'll quite easily make it to my top ten favorite artists in music list.
Any news on Psyche?
I haven't heard anything yet I'm afraid. They are touring until the 16th of August according to last.fm, so you'd assume after that, they will hit the studio and we should have an album by late 2010...hopefully :biggrin:
And yes, I agree with most of what you said there. I'd also pick up 'Svidd Neger' which is a soundtrack they made for a Norwegian film, but it really stands up on it's own :hat oh and also get 'A Quick Fix of Melancholy [EP]' only 20 minutes long, but it's from [2003], between Perdition City and Blood Inside, so you can see some of the 'metamorphosis' occurring :)
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btw, here is a GREAT interview with the guys from November 09. Do read it! (if you haven't already)
https://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=127
Love this part:
KGR: Yeah, it's like when there are no vocals going on, what am I supposed to do?
SRB: Go check your email on the laptop.
KGR: Yeah, I got a couple of email interviews done during the set yesterday. That's the real challenge, you know, how much office work I can squeeze in between my lines.
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btw, here is a GREAT interview with the guys from November 09. Do read it! (if you haven't already)
https://www.avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=127
Love this part:
KGR: Yeah, it's like when there are no vocals going on, what am I supposed to do?
SRB: Go check your email on the laptop.
KGR: Yeah, I got a couple of email interviews done during the set yesterday. That's the real challenge, you know, how much office work I can squeeze in between my lines.
:rollin
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Listened to the Blake album for the first time in ages today, forgot how damn good it is!
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A guy at my work was wearing an Ulver shirt from when he saw them live, turns out he games and likes awesome music. He said how Ulver had two drumkits on stage which is pretty crazy.
The Future Sound of Music is still by far my favourite song by them :metal
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Fuck. Blood Inside is so perfect. I got it only yesterday and I've listened to it eight or nine times so far.
I got Svidd Neger as well and it's just as amazing as everything else they've done. I just need Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Nattens madrigal - Aatte hymne til ulven i manden, I have everything else (not including all their EPs).
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I'm not really keen on their two black metal albums, but everything else they've done is really top-notch. You definitely need to get William Blake, such an excellent and experimental album. You also need A Quick Fix of Melancholy.
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I got A Quick Fix, love it :tup they haven't made anything I haven't loved - I even like Bergatt a lot, and I'm not a fan of black metal (except for some Emperor and Agalloch, if you can count them). But yes, I plan to get William Blake soon.
Okay, I think I read somewhere that it was based off a Bach composition, but am I the only one that hears Dancing Mad (the final boss theme for Kefka in Final Fantasy VI) during that last 1:30 for Is It Not Sound?
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Okay, I think I read somewhere that it was based off a Bach composition, but am I the only one that hears Dancing Mad (the final boss theme for Kefka in Final Fantasy VI) during that last 1:30 for Is It Not Sound?
I don't know, because I don't play video games. But it is based on Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.
Listening to Blood Inside right now, as a matter of fact.
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I just read Dancing Mad draws from Bach's Preludes and Fugues, so yeah, that's where the similarity comes from :lol
Edit: Apparently the third part of the song I mentioned is Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, so yeah, it's pretty much the same. And I thought I was hearing things. Interesting.
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Got the Metamorphosis EP, it's great. Am I the only person who likes Of Wolves And Vibrancy? :lol
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Superb EP, and hell naw, that song in my Ulver top 20 easily. Really sweet vibe to it
check this out, great artistic video set to it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ4G5zxgY-w
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That was pretty cool! :lol
I can't stop listening to Blood Inside... I've had it for a week and I think I consider it one of my favorite albums of all time.
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That was pretty cool! :lol
I can't stop listening to Blood Inside... I've had it for a week and I think I consider it one of my favorite albums of all time.
Yep. there is some sort of dark genius to it. Very layered and textual. Honestly, every-time I put it on, I find something new to go 'wow' at. I love albums like that. :heart
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That acoustic part that comes out of nowhere in Of Wolf And Fear is one of the coolest things ever.
Okay, if I think I don't like black metal but I somehow like Nattens madrigal does that mean I like black metal? :lol
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That acoustic part that comes out of nowhere in Of Wolf And Fear is one of the coolest things ever.
Okay, if I think I don't like black metal but I somehow like Nattens madrigal does that mean I like black metal? :lol
Yes, yes it does :lol If you do want to check out more BM, I'd recommend Wolves In The Throne Room. Very cool stuff
Also, I found a post addressed you a while back
How you are not already into Ulver is beyond me. They are so up your alley that they have reached the end and have already climbed over the wall.
Mind-reading abilities :coolio
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Haha, yes! :tup I am forever indebted to you as they are one of my favorite bands now.
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Any news on the next Ulver-album? :P
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I haven't heard anything yet I'm afraid. They are touring until the 16th of August according to last.fm, so you'd assume after that, they will hit the studio and we should have an album by late 2010...hopefully :biggrin:
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Wonder which direction they're taking this time.
Also, I have to say that the last two and a half minutes of What Happened? are nothing short of mindblowing. The strings are out of this world.
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Next album will be post-ironic blackened progressive-trip-hop bluesy polkacore
I used to use that genre name as a joke but that seems entirely like something they'd do.
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(https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Sykasa/ulver.jpg)
(https://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/Sykasa/aslf.jpg)
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:clap: get them to 10,000,000 :biggrin:
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Ulver are like good fruits: it's good stuff! :tup Anyway, I only own Perdition City as of now but I'm considering to get Swallow of the Sun next.
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I have 12 albums/EPs and every single one of them is amazing, so you have fun with that. :tup
Blood Inside remains my favorite, I've given it 25 listens in the past week.
William Blake is proving to be their least accessible album for me, even more so than the black metal trilogie, but I still love it.
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Good God Perdition City is wonderful. But creepy, in a way.
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Listening to Perdition City right now for the first time!
This post leads me to assume you're just getting into them? If so, congratulations, and welcome to the cool club :tup Get Blood Inside, Shadows of the Sun and Svidd Neger.
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Yeah I've only got Perdition City at the minute, but Blood Inside seems like the next logical step.
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Vigil is certainly one of my favorite songs ever...
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OH MY GOD THIS IS SO GOOD AGGHHHHHH CUMSPLOSION
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Make love to me.
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Should I be worried that I'm even able to find some redeeming qualities in We Are The Dead?
Also, again, Eos. Pure beauty.
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Why am I not subscribed to this thread?
*fixes*
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So, the Metamorphosis EP is pretty darn amazing.
Too bad it's pretty short though, so many great ideas on it, and "Of Wolves and Vibrancy" is just pure eargasm, probably my favorite Ulver-song.
Overall i think the sound is different from Perdition City (considering it was just a year between the releases), but Ulver manages (as always) to make fantastic music without staying within certain limits.
I also listened to Kveldssanger for the first time, really liking it a lot.
I'm familiar with Bergtatt since earlier, really liking it, but i gotta say that the difference is quite interesting between album nr1 and album nr2 in the discography.
Even though Bergtatt has several influences/patches of folk-music, Kveldssanger has completely transcended into neo-folk.
Love it. :)
I also found it disappointing being swedish and not understanding as much norweigan as i probably should, but i guess i can work on that. :D
My biggest regret in life right now, is missing the opportunity to see Ulver live.
I had heard a lot about them and i knew they were coming to the city i live in, but i mixed up february/march (thinking it was in march but was mistaken), so when i listened to Perdition City and got blown away, i had already missed them with like 2 days. :/
Hopefully i can repair that by seeing them the next time they come here, hopefully they will... some day.
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I've just listened properly to Blood Inside, and I enjoyed it a lot.
But I think Perdition City is 'the one.'
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Good man Zantera, Metamorphosis EP is awesome. So is A Quick Fix of Melancholy. So is...
Fuck it everything they've done has been awesome. Except that first black metal EP.
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Ulver is probably the most fascinating group i know, the whole evolution sound-wise, the 'mystery' behind it all.
Compared to other groups like Porcupine Tree or Opeth (mostly because they're famous here), Ulver just seem to have that 'where the hell will they go next?'-vibe.
With the other bands you pretty much know where they will go (but it will be a small change), meanwhile Ulver can jump from Black Metal to Neo-folk in 1 album. :D
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I dunno, I'm actually very interested to hear what Opeth's next album sounds like, but I get your point, they're probably the least predictable band I've ever heard. The bad thing is, I don't think I'll like a lot of their releases.
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I like their black metal, I like their folk, I like their electronic avant-garde whateverthefuckyouwannacallit, I'm cool with whatever they wanna do :hat Psyche is my most anticipated upcoming album for me, and I have no effing clue what it will be like or when it will be released.
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The only 2 Ulver-albums i own (as in bought) are Perdition City and Blood Inside, but i just ordered Svidd Neger. :)
Shadows of the Sun isn't available on the site where i do most of my orders, but i will check for it in London when i go there in 3 weeks. :corn
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I've owned Bergtatt for awhile. It's a damn good album.
I downloaded the rest of their discography just yesterday... this is gonna take a long time to get through.
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Ah, but a long time well spent. ;)
Fuck it everything they've done has been awesome. Except that first black metal EP.
I was going to come at you with "how dare you! D:<", but then I realised how right you were. Hah. They have some fantastic bits sprinkled throughout, but it isn't very consistent.
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What Happened? has never been more fitting to the general mood of DTF than today.
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Listening to Blood Inside for the first time :caffeine:
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inb4 Arcaeus
also, it might be my favourite Ulver album. Just awesome
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Blood Inside = eargasm as with all Ulver-related stuff. :biggrin:
So, a bit interested... how would you guys rank your top5 Ulver-songs?
If i gave it a shot, it would probably look like this: (if you think a song is missing, just point out my fail)
1. Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses (Perdition City)
2. Dressed in Black (Blood Inside)
3. Of Wolves and Vibrancy (Metamorphosis EP)
4. EOS (Shadows of the Sun)
5. Doom Sticks (A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP)
;)
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inb4 Arcaeus
:lol :lol Was just about to post.
I'm a bit burnt out on Blood Inside at the moment, but yeah, as everyone knows, it's one of my favorite albums ever. Enjoy :tup
And get Shadows Of The Sun, the Metamorphosis EP, and the Svidd Neger soundtrack afterward. Along with everything else.
As for ranking my favorite songs... I don't think I can do it, but I actually think two or three of the songs on your list would be in mine, just in a different order. While kind of a generic answer, I really do think Lost In Moments would be on my top 5.
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Personally my favourite from Perdition City is Hallways of Always, but that whole first half of songs is just of insane quality. Like Arc I can't really rank my top 5, because there is probably around 15-20 songs I love pretty much equally.
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It was really hard for me as well, because i wanted to include songs like Lost in Moments, Hallways of Always, The Future Sound of Music, Like Music and All the Love (just to name a few), but its damn hard.
I haven't listened to the Williams Blake-album yet, how is it?
And i think i need to give Kveldssanger, Lyckantropen Themes and Svidd Neger a few more listens before i can say i know them.
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Nattleite - Kveldssanger
Of Wolves And Vibrancy - Metamorphosis
Porn Piece (Or The Scars Of Cold Kisses) - Perdition City
Eitttlane - A Quick Fix of Melancholy
Christmas - Blood Inside
Vigil - Shadows of the Sun
These'd be my favourite tracks off those releases if you twisted my arm & threatened my life and made me choose only one.
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So how do you guys think the new british dude will influence the sound of Ulver? :)
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I'm looking forward to it. His project, Mothlite (https://www.myspace.com/mothlite), is really encouraging to hear. He opened for Isis last year and was nothing short of awesome.
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Some thoughts:
Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are tied as my favorite Ulver albums out of the ones I've listened to so far.
A Quick Fix of Melancholy is really cool.
Blood Inside is wacky as hell, but it's an awesome album.
I'll probably listen to Themes from William Blake's Marriage of Heaven and Hell next.
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Man, Blood Inside is a strange album.
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Yes it is. It's almost the opposite of accessible or easy on the ears. But I really love it, every time I listen to it, I find a new part I missed, or another part clicks for me. There are very few albums I've heard that have this sort of depth to them.
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It's really hard to pick a favorite Ulver-album, Perdition City has its epicness and weird noises, Blood Inside has amazing songs, and Shadows of the Sun has those beautiful arrangements.
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Blood Inside is a very strange album. One of the most difficult records to get into for me so far.
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I liked it from first listen, oddly enough. But yes, it's damned bizarre.
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To be honest I don't feel the need to get into Ulver albums like I do with, say, a PT or a Tool album. I'm sort of happy to have it on in the background, or just lie in bed with headphones zoning out to it. It's not the kind of music where I feel like I need to remember every song, in fact it's basically the opposite.
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The more I listen to this band, the more I like it.
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I'm listening to Blood Inside right now and it is REALLY good! :hefdaddy
Right now it's tie with Perdition City as my favorite Ulver album.
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Bump for Gorille85. ;)
I've come to the conclusion that 'Doom Sticks' is one of my favorite Ulver-songs. :metal
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:tup
I can't get enough of this band right now! I have Blood Inside, Shadows of the Sun and Perdition City. Listening to any of those albums all the way through is an incredible experience! One of the most creative and "artistic" bands out there, that's for sure.
So what should I get next? :)
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:tup
I can't get enough of this band right now! I have Blood Inside, Shadows of the Sun and Perdition City. Listening to any of those albums all the way through is an incredible experience! One of the most creative and "artistic" bands out there, that's for sure.
So what should I get next? :)
Check out the Metamorphosis EP and A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP - they're both amazing. :)
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I'm seriously considering flying to Poland in December to see Ulver AND Fennesz live :caffeine:
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:tup
I can't get enough of this band right now! I have Blood Inside, Shadows of the Sun and Perdition City. Listening to any of those albums all the way through is an incredible experience! One of the most creative and "artistic" bands out there, that's for sure.
So what should I get next? :)
Check out the Metamorphosis EP and A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP - they're both amazing. :)
Will do! :tup
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I listened to the entirety of Lyckantropen Themes last night. So damned good at nighttime.
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After hearing some snippets of it, I decided to order the Svidd Neger soundtrack. I hope that the rest of it can live up to what I've heard.
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Well, I'm probably the biggest fan of that soundtrack on here. I'd say it's my 2nd favourite Ulver release. I am already a big fan of good soundtracks, but I just love what Ulver and Garm can come up with musically. It's a great combination of modern classical, ambient and trip-hop. :tup
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Lastest Ulver blog (don't get too excited)
ULVER NEWS UPDATE NOVEMBER 2010
Ok, so now we have been on the road, and it has been rewarding, all fear and loathing considered. We are a domestic pack these days. The children miss their parents and we miss them. So. We have decided to limit next year's touring to two shorter blocks, one before and one after summer, plus an odd festival here and there. We would also very much like to make a few apperances overseas.
2011 is the future, a Critical Geography, the new album of Ulver. The anthological presentation we've been hiding behind since Lillehammer is history after Warsaw.
We are stoked to say that our blood-brothers VIRUS have accepted the offer to play their debut concert with us at London-palace KOKO, as a kick-off spectacular. This is Virus' Lillehammer, and they are a bit apprehensive. We are certain though, that if you show them the same courtesy that you showed us, this will be one to remember. An announcement from the band:
"Apprehensive is not the word. Plain terrified, is more like it. We used to feel safe and sound inside our little bubble, being a non-live band, barely daring to release albums. We've gotten tons of propositions over the years, but when Ulver approached us it all seemed to fall right into place, to create the best possible condition for both us and our fans to finally do this thing. We couldn't think of a better way of taking that next step - bringing our mischief to the stage - than under the wings of our friends, who've been in the exact same spot we are now."
The KOKO gig will be a further reunion of the old-school rebels, in that our red-bearded buddy ZWEIZZ will be opening the ball. He will also be travelling with us to a quite a few of the other venues announced. See you in the wild.
Ulver, Oslo, November 24 2010.
https://www.myspace.com/ulver1/blog/540954792#pm_cmp=O_5784_notif
Looks like they will be recording Psyche sometime early next year. Personally I'd rather they didn't do so much touring and just got down to business, but they really need the money from these shows, and they usually sell out the venues they play, so I don't blame them.
Anyway, just thought you guys would like to know what Ulver is up to recently. :)
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FUCK YES GOT MY TICKET FOR THE KOKO SHOW :caffeine: :caffeine:
I'd still rather go to the Warsaw show because Fennesz is opening for them there, but travel is way to expensive in late december.
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If Ulver comes to Sweden next year, i'm SO going.
Can't believe i missed them this year. :sadpanda:
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FUCK YES GOT MY TICKET FOR THE KOKO SHOW :caffeine: :caffeine:
Need to get my ticket for that show, Virus sound awesome as well so all good
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Is there any chance they'll come near Montreal?? I really want to see them live but I doubt that will happen anytime soon...
I'm really excited for the album though! :tup
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Gotta happen sometime surely!
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I think Blood Inside is my favorite Ulver album. Every single song is nothing short of amazing. Definitely one of my favorite albums of all-time.
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Blood Inside is amazing, but Perdition City remains my favorite.
That film noir-feeling, is just incredible. :P
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Blood Inside is one of the densest albums I've ever heard.
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Blood Inside is my favourite too. Like Sigz said, it's so dense, every listen I hear something new. It has so many layers. Love it :heart
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Perdition City's biggest problem is that it's a good 10-15 minutes too long.
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Perdition City's biggest problem is that it's a good 10-15 minutes too long.
I have never thought that. What songs would you take out? Maybe Dead City Centres drags a bit, but the 2nd half has a really interesting experimental feel to it, and I wouldn't change anything.
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It's not that there's any bad songs, it's just that I find myself losing interest by the end. Kinda the same way that FOABP is better without Nil Recurring added in even though the NR songs are all good.
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Perdition City is just awesome as it is, the perfect Ulver-album to listen to in headphones during nighttime. :)
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Perdition City is kind of like this girl you like that have a pretty classy lifestyle, she's wearing a red dress sometimes during the weekend and drinks a bit too much at parties but you like her anyway while Blood Inside is more like the girl you've never really talk to because you're shy and is pretty casual with her friends but you feel like asking her out would scare her because she's not super social in general but everyone says she's quite good in bed.
That being said, I feel like Perdition City has two different half, but it flows very well. You really need to be in the mood for it. I love listening to that album at night, when I'm driving for example. Blood Inside is just...it's something else, really. I've never heard anything like that. It feels like a journey. The diversity, the moods, the sounds...it's beautiful.
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Blood Inside is amazing, but Perdition City remains my favorite.
That film noir-feeling, is just incredible. :P
This is correct.
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Wheel of Conclusion is really scary to listen to when you're driving in the dark.
Awesome experience though. :angel:
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Good god, I love Blood Inside. Seriously, I was sucked into it completely for a good 4 hours earlier today (when I should have been studying for chemistry) just playing the songs over and over, particularly Binded by Blood, Christmas, and Dressed in Black.
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There needs to be some more appreciation for Bergtatt in here. Seriously, it's such a good black metal album.
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Bergtatt is amazing indeed.
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Bergtatt :hefdaddy
Awesome album.
However, in my many years of love for Ulver, I have never been able to listen through Nattens Madrigal. Maybe it's simply 2hardcore4me, but does anyone here REALLY like it? I mean, I understand it's purpose but I just don't enjoy it, and it seems to be a fan favorite.
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New song from Critical Geography!
https://www.phoenixfm.com/story/4611.php
What a song! I like how they brought the quick drum pattern into their usual atmospheric style.
(here's a youtube llink if you don't want to get the whole radio show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP-FLD7EHhs)
I'm now super excited.
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Great song indeed! I'm excited for the album now!
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I'm gonna wait till I have the full album.
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Same.
Listening to individual songs for the first time outside of the album is a crime.
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I'm jealous of your restraint. I'd like to be the same way, but when it comes to Ulver I can't contain myself.
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Well, I just like to listen to samples of a song or two to have a general idea. I checked out maybe 30-45 seconds overall of the track.
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I didn't pay enough attention to catch everything, but from what I've heard, I think it's pretty good. I'm going to wait until the new album until I give it a proper listen, though.
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I listened to a good 2 minutes of it. Ulver's stuff is so predictably unpredictable. I like it.
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God I can't wait to see them in March. I wonder what the set's going to be like.
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God I can't wait to see them in March. I wonder what the set's going to be like.
Oh man I forgot about that, I wanted to wait until I knew where I'm going to be that week. Looks like I should be in London, think I might go... Hmmm...
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DO IT DO IT DO IT
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OK FINE BOOKED
:caffeine:
That's now Ulver, Blackfield and Devy all within a couple of weeks!
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February, March, and the beginning of April are amazing for me in terms of gigs. Kayo Dot, Venetian Snares, I Like Trains, The Decemberists, Ulver, Devin Townsend, and Blackfield all within like two months. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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See, this is why London is the place to be!
I didn't know Venetian Snares and Kayo Dot were playing as well! Although I don't know either all that well, only got one VS album and heard a bit of Kayo Dot but never listened properly.
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I'm not ultra familiar with Venetian Snares either, but everything I've heard from him is awesome, and it should be really cool. Kayo Dot is amazing and I'd highly recommend them, though the gig is at a jazz club in Islington so I'm not sure how far away that is for you. I'm not really sure how well their stuff translates in a live setting either.
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I wouldn't miss the opportunity to see Kayo Dot :tup
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I'm not ultra familiar with Venetian Snares either, but everything I've heard from him is awesome, and it should be really cool. Kayo Dot is amazing and I'd highly recommend them, though the gig is at a jazz club in Islington so I'm not sure how far away that is for you. I'm not really sure how well their stuff translates in a live setting either.
Ah it would have actually been fairly convenient for me to get to being in north London and all, but I'm away with work that week, sad times. I'll try and check out Kayo Dot anyway though, they sound interesting!
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I finally ordered the Lyckantropen Themes. I've heard them before and I really love them, but I want to have them in my collection, so...
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Apparently the new album is now titles The Wars of the Roses. I think I liked Critical Geography better.
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Yeah, Critical Geography was an awesome title.
Not sure if I'm gonna be able to go to the upcoming London show. Want to but not sure on both the financial and timing front. Hopefully it won't sell out and I can get them on the door if I can go.
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Apparently the new album is now titles The Wars of the Roses. I think I liked Critical Geography better.
I agree.
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Yeah, Critical Geography sounded much cooler. I'm still excited regardless, though.
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https://www.jester-records.com/ulver/
I am excite! :caffeine:
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I am excite! :caffeine:
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ughhh this is going to be an incredible year. and new Boris and Ulver in the same month O_O_O
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I am excite! :caffeine:
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Signed with Kscope, awesome move!
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^ indeed!
also, i just realized you can go get "February MMX" on iBoobs for 99¢. worth the grab, i think.
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GIG ON TUESDAY! :D
Any other Londoners/Brits going? Bodiesinflight, you said you might come along...?
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I'd like to go but can't do three gigs in three nights atm and the others are more important so will not be attending sadly.
Make sure you tell all on here when you get back, curious as to how Virus will do.
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GIG ON TUESDAY! :D
Any other Londoners/Brits going? Bodiesinflight, you said you might come along...?
Dammit, I would but I've got a crapload of work atm. And I assume it's sold out too. :sadpanda: Oh well, I've got Blackfield to look forward to at least.
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Sweet, only one more month to go. :metal
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GIG ON TUESDAY! :D
Any other Londoners/Brits going? Bodiesinflight, you said you might come along...?
Dammit, I would but I've got a crapload of work atm. And I assume it's sold out too. :sadpanda: Oh well, I've got Blackfield to look forward to at least.
Nah, it's not sold out
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Wars of the Roses preorder is also up at Kscope (on Burning Shed), vinyl and limited digibook CD.
Wars Of The Roses was mixed by producer extraordinaire John Fryer (Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, Swans etc.), following a chance meeting outside Crystal Canyon studios during the latter stages of recording. Sounds like fate.
The limited deluxe CD edition comes packaged in a digi-book.
The limited vinyl edition is pressed on heavyweight (180gram) black vinyl packaged in a gatefold sleeve with printed inners. It also includes an inserted book featuring the poem Stone Angels written by Keith Waldrop which is used in the final track on the album. All the packing is printed on special munken pure card stock.
Each copy ordered from Kscope will come with a download card which features a unique code to download a digital version of the album.
Preorder now for 25th April 2011 release
SIDE ONE
1. February MMX (4.10)
2. Norwegian Gothic (3.46)
3. Providence (8.12)
4. September IV (4.38)
SIDE TWO
1. England (3.57)
2. Island (6.04)
3. Stone Angels (14.52)
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GIG ON TUESDAY! :D
Any other Londoners/Brits going? Bodiesinflight, you said you might come along...?
Dammit, I would but I've got a crapload of work atm. And I assume it's sold out too. :sadpanda: Oh well, I've got Blackfield to look forward to at least.
Nah it's not sold out, but it's up to you dude. You should DEFINITELY come to Devy next weekend though, unless that's sold out and you don't already have a ticket...
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Album seems fairly short. :/
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Album seems fairly short. :/
Looks like it's around the 45 min mark. That's fairly standard.
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Yeah, I don't have a problem with the length at all. If anything Ulver's biggest weakness in the past has been being too long-winded.
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GIG ON TUESDAY! :D
Any other Londoners/Brits going? Bodiesinflight, you said you might come along...?
Dammit, I would but I've got a crapload of work atm. And I assume it's sold out too. :sadpanda: Oh well, I've got Blackfield to look forward to at least.
Nah it's not sold out, but it's up to you dude. You should DEFINITELY come to Devy next weekend though, unless that's sold out and you don't already have a ticket...
Huh, £20, I'm pretty tempted now. I'll see if I can convince a friend who's never heard of them to go too. :lol
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JUST GO YOU CAN MEET UP WITH US
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WE ARE AMAZING
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Oh yeah, is there any plan for Blackfield? I'm going with some friends to that, but it might still be cool to meet up.
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I think a meetup can definitely be on the cards. Harry is coming down from Scotland as well.
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Yeah I'm sure there'll be a meetup.
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Album seems fairly short. :/
Looks like it's around the 45 min mark. That's fairly standard.
not only is it fairly standard in general, it's also become the Ulver standard over the past two releases. both Blood Inside and Shadows of the Sun are under 50 minutes long.
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That sort of running time is near-perfect IMO. I find it's pretty rare that albums over 60 minutes long retain their consistency/quality all throughout.
Anyway, From what I've heard of WOTR (Feb MMX + some samples) this album is going to be more varied in sound than SOTS. As for quality, we'll just have to wait and see. At the moment though, all signs are pointing towards another great addition the discography :tup
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HOLY SHIT CONCERT IN MUNICH ON APRIL 1ST SHOULD I GO :dangerwillrobinson:
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Please go! It's such a privilege. They will never come to my continent I fear, but I'd kill to see them! From what I've seen/heard of their live stuff, their heavy utilization of background film and lighting would make for something truly unique and memorable!
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OK, I just payed for my ticket. Fingers crossed that the guys from the venue will accept it (it's some kind of print-at-home ticket).
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You know, Nattens Madrigal is actually really cool.
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I can always see it's appeal to fans of that kind of metal, but personally I just can't get through it. I can hear one song and like it, but then it gets tiresome.
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GODDAMMIT! The merch stall has the new album, but on vinyl only. AND SIGZ AND I HAVE NO WAY OF PLAYING VINYL! >:(
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Wait... is the CD available for purchase on Burningshed? Or just the vinyl?
Son, I am confuse.
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I don't know, but at the gig they were only selling the vinyl.
Most avant-garde gig ever. They just played the new album that isn't out yet and one other song, and that was it! Wtf.
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Was it any good?
/stupid question
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It was seriously good! I mean, I'd have been pretty pissed off if it wasn't, considering that was almost all that was played. :lol
But yeah, I'd say that harmonically it's a natural progression from Shadows of the Sun, but it's got a lot more energy and a bit more of a rock in it, although no guitar still. There are some purely ambient passages (which I think they extended live to fill the set out to an hour) which were pretty amazing if a little overly long. But there was one song in particular that I can see becoming a favourite once the album is out!
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Yeah, it was a great show despite being totally blue balled at the end.
Also, Virus was horrible.
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Also, Virus was horrible.
Oh god yeah, I'd almost managed to block that out of my mind.
HIS VOICE, UGH!
And that guitar tone!
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Sounds awesome, I hope you guys had fun!
I hope they come around this area sometime soon, I'm excited for the new album and I'd be interested in seeing how they pull off all of their music live!
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Wait... is the CD available for purchase on Burningshed? Or just the vinyl?
Son, I am confuse.
Burning Shed has preorders for both (separately).
i wonder when a vinyl rip will surface...
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Hmm... After seeing Rich's and Ian's review of the concert, I have to say that I feel a bit ripped off. I shelled out € 30 for my concert ticket and all I'll be getting to see is (apparently) 60 minutes of Ulver (of which I won't know anything but one song for sure - what old song did they play, anyway? - and one kind of half-assedly) and an opening act that might be just as long. Not happy.
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I really hope that Ulver will visit Gothenburg again, I discovered them last year 1 week after they played here.
Just my luck. :(
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They played Hallways of Always.
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My promo copy of the new album has arrived
:hat
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^ just in time for Kscope to launch the minisite!
https://www.kscopemusic.com/ulver/warsoftheroses/index.php
has lyrics, images, and an audio montage. sounds fucking righteous.
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I clicked the preorder link, but all it does it link me to a page to get email updates on burningshed releases. :\
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^ just in time for Kscope to launch the minisite!
https://www.kscopemusic.com/ulver/warsoftheroses/index.php
has lyrics, images, and an audio montage. sounds fucking righteous.
oh my GOD. ;D
Love the female vocals!
Sounded closer to Themes or Blood Inside than Shadows of the Sun to me, but it's definitely still a very different animal than what we've heard before.
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Wow, the album sounds VERY promising! :hefdaddy
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I feel so handicapped right now, but can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with the preorder?
I typed in my info for things like my email address, billing addres, name, etc. There wasn't any place to type in my street address or anything like that. I went forward after that, and all it did was ask me if I'd like to get updates from burningshed. :sadpanda:
I know I must sound retarded, but I can't brain today. I have the dumb.
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I feel so handicapped right now, but can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with the preorder?
I typed in my info for things like my email address, billing addres, name, etc. There wasn't any place to type in my street address or anything like that. I went forward after that, and all it did was ask me if I'd like to get updates from burningshed. :sadpanda:
I know I must sound retarded, but I can't brain today. I have the dumb.
:lol
Digibook CD (https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2757/)
Vinyl (https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2758/)
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I feel so handicapped right now, but can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with the preorder?
I typed in my info for things like my email address, billing addres, name, etc. There wasn't any place to type in my street address or anything like that. I went forward after that, and all it did was ask me if I'd like to get updates from burningshed. :sadpanda:
I know I must sound retarded, but I can't brain today. I have the dumb.
:lol
Digibook CD (https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2757/)
Vinyl (https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2758/)
I'm aware of that :P I just figured there was more to it. About 99% of everything else I've ordered online has required me to fill out much more forms than that page did. I dunno.
/st00pid
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Yeah, so this album marklared. We're going to be marklaring it on marklar later if you all want to marklar. (Daedalus Radio)
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marklared indeed. loving it so far :o :heart :-X
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Can't wait for this album. :)
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there's a definite relationship to Shadows of the Sun: the record is very dynamic, and when it's quiet, it's the same kind of dark orchestral quiet as on Shadows. when it's not quiet, though, it's somewhere else, somewhere new and unknown.
early favourites are "February MMX" and "Stone Angels," but we'll see how the rest settles in (and how the record sounds in stereo when it comes out!).
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Stone Angels dragged on a little live, but only because it lasted for around 10 minutes, and it was still absolutely epic.
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Guys, this album is great.
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I was under the impression that the album wasn't due for another month? ::)
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Oh, I haven't heard it yet, of course.
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I'm guessing you guys are referring to the shitty Foobar-rip that's circulating the web, personally I'll wait until something better comes, or when the album is released. :P
I really have high hopes for this album though, even though that might be the wrong thing, seeing as I had sky-high expectations for the new Radiohead and that went kinda bad.
Anyhow, hopefully this will impress me more. :tup
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Yeah, it's a V2 Foobar rip.
They sold their vinyl at the London show apparently, so I figured something good would be out by now... but there isn't. I suspect a few more days.
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Judging from the preview, the album might be really good.
And maybe the concert won't be a disaster...
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err no, i was referring to the 24/96 mono vinyl rip xD
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And maybe the concert won't be a disaster...
It's definitely not a disaster, don't worry! Sigz and I were obviously a little disappointed by the length of the set and lack of old songs, but it didn't take away the greatness of what WAS there.
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I would probably feel the same, because Ulver has so many fantastic songs, that a 1 hour concert just wouldn't fit it all.
I'm dying to hear "Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses" live, mostly because it's my favorite, but also "Dressed In Black". :hat
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Well, that surely was interesting. Actually, the shortness of the set wasn't really an issue, but unfortunately, the sound was abysmal. Still, it was a nice experience. Hallways Of Always was awesome.
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Well, that surely was interesting. Actually, the shortness of the set wasn't really an issue, but unfortunately, the sound was abysmal. Still, it was a nice experience. Hallways Of Always was awesome.
That's a shame, must be heavily on the venue because the sound was pretty good for us.
Glad you liked it though, new album is great isn't it?
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From what I could tell, it must be pretty amazing. I'll order WOTR from Amazon since it's only € 16. Until then, I guess I'll wait.
My favourites were February MMX, the piano-laden piece and the ambient piece with the yellow-ish video footage on the screen (I don't know how they're called).
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Yeah I'm waiting to get the CD so I've only experienced it live as well. February MMX was great, but my favourite one was the song that started as a soft piano-led song, and then went into a pretty epic instrumental section with an amazing melodic clarinet solo. Might be the piano-laden one you were referring to possibly. Absolutely loved it anyway!
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Having the full-quality version of the album already I can testify that this sounds absolutely goregous.
The whole thing is just brilliant. Definitely my favourite Ulver album already and certainly a likely AOTY.
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War of The Roses (vinyl) just arrived for me today! :D Can't wait to hear this record on my hi-fi.
pics for anyone who wants to see;
https://i.imgur.com/z80c9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7xXE7.jpg :)
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Looks awesome! ^
Every time I've tried ordering the album, there's some weird glitch. Like, it just goes back to the original page and asks me if I'd like to get email updates, and this is just after typing in my address. No credit card info or anything like that.
Unless I'm just fucking retarded and don't understand anything I'm doing :neverusethis:
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Wow, the sleeve art is even better too! plus there is a mini-book 'Stone Angels' by Keith Waldrop included.
and Raven, I just bought it from here https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2758/ worked fine for me. I can't believe it arrived so fast, considered it's mailed from the other-side of the world. props to Burningshed for that :tup
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Wow, the sleeve art is even better too! plus there is a mini-book 'Stone Angels' by Keith Waldrop included.
and Raven, I just bought it from here https://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/2758/ worked fine for me. I can't believe it arrived so fast, considered it's mailed from the other-side of the world. props to Burningshed for that :tup
WOW... Okay, now I see what I was doing wrong :lolpalm:
Thanks :tup
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I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive.
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My CD shipped a few days ago.
I'll prolly be waiting for at least a week I bet.
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I haven't ordered the album yet, but I will soon.
Will most likely pick up the limited edition. :tup
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^ i don't think you have a choice BUT to buy the limited edition!
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Speaking of which, I just pre-ordered the limited edition. :tup
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Themes From William Blake is such a good album, been spinning it a lot lately.
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^ me too! i distilled out a couple of intros/etc. i'm not so into so it becomes about an hour long (heresy, yes), and it's an extremely addictive listen now.
if anyone wants to purchase Lyckantropen Themes or Perdition City on vinyl, you can get them at decent prices now via seller neuroparecords on Discogs — they update every couple of hours with more stock for each, and a sealed copy runs €20. (they're located in Belgium, so if you're ordering from the US/Canada, shipping is a bit chunky - my order for both albums with shipping was €63,50.)
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Not much discussion of the new album going on :sad: I may as well start :P
tl;dr version: Lovely....8.5/10 if I had to give a score
song by song thoughts from first listen; (just random comments......dont hate)
Feburary MMX:
A more conventional Ulver song structure-wise. Reminds me of Nowhere/Catastrophe. Really nice piano and bass throughout. Garm is on top form here...especially approaching the glitchy/noisy climaxes. Another highlight is the little breakdown at 2:57 then back to building the tension. Epic vocal lines delivered throughout....."Birds in black and whiite, and the drums of waaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooorld warrrrr twoo" :hefdaddy
Norweigan Gothic:
Definite Shadows of The Sun vibe here....the violin is especially. Really nice ambient electronic sounds behind it all. Soft jazzy drums come in half-way through to give more meat to the song....Garm continues his restrained melancholic vocals. song fades out with some cool looped bird sound.
Providence:
Beautiful piano intro and middle section. harmonized garm + guest female vox = sweeeeeet. violin still ever present. about halfway though things start getting creepy. drums come in to some agalloch-ish electric guitar. clarinet over the top is very cool. more electronic sounds start kicking in. this section definitely stood out to me first listen.
song goes back to piano and female vox, then progresses all the way into dark ambient.
September IV:
Another great opening....more piano again...Daniel really get used a lot on this album which I heartily approve of. 1st half quite conventional....Garm + piano & drums. At about 2:10 onwards electric guitar and keyboard take over, seguing into some upbeat drumming. excellent avant-garde type section with the weird sounds overlayed. another favourite section.
England:
vocal opening with piano. drums come in, seems like a slowish song. electric bass underneath is pants. piano continues wandering throughout. this is a real Garm-vocal orientated song, like February, but much slower. "A Blood Red Coooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat. Whittte to the boooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnne" :heart
Island:
Interesting opening....percussion is unexpected, but works really well as the rhythm. Garms voice too is spot on again....random sea-side samples half-way though fit with the song name....acoustic guitar is lovely also. Quite a simple song...could have been shorter for what it is really, but it's still ear-pleasing; Garms harmonies especially. At around 3:40, song turns and becomes darker/less coherent. Very cool change.....the rest of the song continues in this eerie ambient/electronic vein. quite different from the relatively happy way the song starts.
Stone Angels:
Organs aptly open the song (and stay present thereafter). A general air of dissonance/sadness created by fade in and outs of many different instruments. Continues quite a while like this with (someone?) reading the the poem Stone Angels by Keith Waldrop over the top. Organs provide the basis, and every other role is just free to appear and experiment whenever. Just a simple, but really neat idea. Very evocative for your imagination....reminds me a lot of Leb'Wohl by Neu!, though no-one will know what I'm talking about. The little cameos of clarinet are quite powerful. Generally this is a spacey epic which you can close your eyes to and drift into another world. There is certainly no bombast or dramatic climaxes, but that's fine with me...what it does...it does superbly
End thoughts:
Wow, really loved this. More than I thought I would. It definitely adds up to more than the sum of it's part. No-one of the songs are boring at all. Some are quite incidental or easy-listening, but it works in the context of the album. This album is not like Perdition City or Blood Inside....and it's still quite different than Shadows of The Sun (though it would be the most similar to WoTR on average). Like every Ulver album ever, it's different and powerful in its own way. The standout though really is Garm. He is on absolute top form, the best he's ever been in. His clean vocals add so much emotion and their very unique tone has lost none of it's....errr....uniqueness. Overall this is a mature and beautiful record, my favourite of this year so far :)
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I haven't discussed it yet because my copy will arrive sometime next week, and is released on the 25th here. :P
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Wow, I forgot the official release date is still in around a week....not sure why the sent me the album much earlier than that....believe me, living where I am I'm used to getting things MUCH later than when the official come out in Europe/USA. :lol anywho, this album doesn't disappoint (for me at least). :smiley:
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that's actually Mr. O'Sullivan's voice speaking the poem in "Stone Angels."
overall i'd place this album alongside Blood Inside, underneath Perdition City and Themes From Blake on my list of favourites. "February MMX," "September IV" and "England" are simply incredible songs, with "Providence" and "Stone Angels" not far behind. they've gotten very good at evocative piano music, that's for sure.
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I just got my copy at the mail today!! :metal
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Listening through now in good quality for the first time.
Expecting greatness.
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February
Awesome opening. It's not too common of recent Ulver to have this sort of fairly quick paced drive to their music, but it works so well. Kind of sounds like they took a track from Shadows of the Sun and put a driving drum beat/bassline to it. You notice right away how amazing Garm is, and he stays that way throughout the rest of the record. The more intense sections are awesome. The song is fairly conventional by Ulver's standards but it works very well.
Norweigan Gothic
This one could have easily fit on Shadows of the Sun. It has the same lonely, deserted vibe to it, with sparse strings sounding isolated and confused. The drums kicking in gives it a very different feel... the melody gets a bit stranger and the strings and other various real/electronic sounds begin to meander. It's a really nice effect.
Providence
Lovely. The intro is a fairly conventional ballad sound. The main piano motif is lovely, as one would expect of Ulver, and it adds a very beautiful, classical vibe. The vocals are soulful. Garm sounds amazing on this album, and the female who accompanies him is likewise amazing. The song takes quite a few turns. After sprawling through darkness, a sudden and unexpected, almost tribal rhythm kicks in among atmospheric guitars. It's amazing. The song ends at a dark ambient vibe. One of the best on the album.
September IV
Another very nice song that starts off fairly typical. After an expected and welcomed lovely intro of organ and strings, it goes into a nice ballad groove. More lovely vocals from Garm. The song progresses along quite nicely. After taking a nice, ambient break, one of the most intense sections of the album comes in, with the drums really picking up the pace and lots of experimental goodness.
England
Beautiful intro with Garm's vocals. They sound as tortured and lonely as ever. The piano line is also lovely, and I'd like to say that Daniel does a fantastic job on this album. This has some of Garm's best vocals ever, in particular. One of the more straightforward songs on the album, but beautiful nonetheless.
Island
A strange intro develops into a very nice sounding song. The little island music-ish elements (I'll call them that, at least) are very nice, subtle additions along the typical Ulver ambiance. It is very pleasant, and returns to the strangeness from whence it came.
Stonehenge
Very, very, very beautiful. Perfect song for sort of drifting away from the physical world or some shit like that. The organ is beautiful, and there are more lovely elements which I cannot name after one listen. There are some experimental elements thrown in, which keep it interesting without breaking the listener's interest. I could go on and on about this track, it is amazing. While spoken word can sometimes ruin a song, it only adds to the beauty of it all. I'm glad there was no intense climax, it really allows you to breath in the song and detach yourself from time and space and shit. There are so many lovely subtleties in this song it is almost unfair to subtlety in general. I love this sooo much.
So this is what I gathered after one listen. I'm going to wait on giving a real ranking, but I having a feeling this will at least rank among my favorites if not become my favorite. At least, I think I enjoyed this more on first listen than I have any other Ulver album.
Favorites:
Stone Angels
Providence
February MMX
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Stonehenge is cool. I heard they don't know how it was built and shit.
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Stonehenge is cool. I heard they don't know how it was built and shit.
Yeah, I knew very little about it too until Troll 2 enlightened me.
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My review of the album will be up on Tuesday I reckon, unless there's an Easter pile-up of articles. I'll post a link here when it's up. Don't panic, it's not harsh like my Blackfield review.
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This album is a piece of art... and it is SO good! :tup
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This album is a piece of art.
It's Ulver.
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I know. They didn't dissapoint.
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I know. They didn't dissapoint.
It's Ulver.
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The new album is art.
What's everyone think of Daniel O'Sullivan? He seems to be a very core part of this album's sound.
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Just listened to the new album for the first time...
:hefdaddy ...
that is all.
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This... just gets better with every listen. The only one I'm not completely sold on is Norwegian Gothic.
... I would try and rank the Ulver albums, but they're all so extremely different yet almost as closely amazing that it'd be an impossible waste of time. I think. Maybe. Others should try.
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I agree that ranking Ulver is pretty much impossible, even though I really love most of their albums, it gets hard when the genres are so different on each. :P
However, I'd rank the 'classic'-trio like this:
1. Perdition City
2. Shadows of the Sun
3. Blood Inside
The rest are really great as well, but I haven't listened to them as much as these 3, so I'll have to come back with an update later on.
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1. Blood Inside
2. Perdition City
3. Svidd Neger
4. Shadows of The Sun
5. Themes From William Blake's The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell
6. Wars of The Roses
7. A Quick Fix of Melancholy
8. Metamorphosis
9. Bergtatt
10. Nattens Madrigal
11. Lyckantropen Themes
12. Silence Teaches You How to Sing
13. Silencing the Singing
14. Kveldssanger
and I really like Kveldssanger :lol I might be somewhat alone in the Svidd Neger love though. Discography is strong as hell bro :millahhhh
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Svidd Neger is pretty great, though I probably wouldn't rank it AS high. :P
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blah blah blah
1. Blood Inside
2. Shadows of the Sun
3. Perdition City
4. War of the Roses
5. TFWBTMOH&H
6. Bergatt
7. Svidd Neger
8. A Quick Fix of Melancholy
9. Metamorphosis
10. Silence Teaches you How to Sing
11. Kveldssanger
12. Lyckantropen Themes
13. Silencing the Singing
14. Nattens Madrigal
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okay I'll try this shit
1. Blood Inside
2. Perdition City
3. Shadows Of The Sun
4. War Of The Roses
5. Themes From William Blake's The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell
6. Svidd Neger
7. A Quick Fix Of Melancholy
8. Bergtatt
9. Kveldssanger
10. Metamorphosis
11. Teachings In Silence
12. Nattens Madigral
13. Lyckantropen Themes
actually no because 3 through 7, and 8 through 10 rotate frequently. And I only have the two Silence EPs together so I can't rank individually, but I like 'em :)
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Is the obligatory barcode anywhere on the Wars of the Roses packaging? Doesn't seem to be, just noticed that.
They dropped their original logo at the end of the 90s, and had the barcode on everything from Metamorphosis to Shadows Of The Sun. Guess they're treating the new decade as a new era for them and dropped the barcode logo :biggrin:
I'm really liking O'Sullivan, I'm eager to see what he does within Ulver.
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Yep he's an excellent musician...his playing style fits in seamlessly with the other guys...it's like he's always been there. Heres of a good interview with Daniel from 2010 :)
https://vampster.com/artikel/show/34070_ULVER__The_wolves_leave_their_caves_interview_.html
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1. Perdition City
2. Themes
3. Blood Inside
4. Shadows of the Sun
5. Bergtatt
6. Svidd Neger
7. War of the Roses
8. A Quick Fix
9. Kveldassanger
10. Metamorphosis
11. Lyckantropen
12. Teachings
13. Nattens
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www.stereoboard.com/content/view/165083/9 (https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/165083/9)
my review.
aoty.
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1. Kveldssanger
2. A Quick Fix of Melancholy
3. Lyckantropen Themes
4. Bergtatt
5. Perdition City
6. Blood Inside
7. Shadows of the Sun
8. Silencing the Singing
9. Nattens Madrigal
10. Svidd Neger
11. Silence Teaches You How to Sing
12. Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
13. Wars of the Roses
14. Metamorphosis
Something like that. The first three are my favorites. 4-12 are all strong releases, and I consider them to be more or less equals in quality.
Wars of the Roses is slowly growing on me, but still don't like it as much as the other ones.
And I'm not too familiar with Metamorphosis. I've only listened to it a couple of times, although I still like it.
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First listen of Shadows of the Sun. Loving it.
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I only have their last four and I love them to death. Blood Inside is my favorite, but the new album is incredible!! It may grow even more on me.
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Only heard about these today when browsing the forum so decided to check them out on Spotify, I'm two tracks into 'Peredition City' and already... 'wow'. I'm really impressed this is going to be a good listen! :D
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First listen of Shadows of the Sun. Loving it.
First listen? It's about time!
That's a top two album from them for me. Slowpoke :P
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got Silence Teaches You How to Sing in the mail today! with Metamorphosis in transit (and the new Lyckantropen Themes + Perdition City vinyls), the only remaining post-black metal album i don't have is Svidd Neger. it is nextttttt
And I'm not too familiar with Metamorphosis. I've only listened to it a couple of times, although I still like it.
i love that EP. actually, unless i specifically want songs on Perdition City, i usually 'preface' my listening of that album with Metamorphosis.
also, if you want a 'complete PC sessions' kind of thing, you could just do a massive Metamorphosis - PC - Silencing the Singing spree. (i'd throw in Silence Teaches You How to Sing too, but it's not a leftover.)
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It's nice to see this thread getting more attention since Ulver is pretty much the greatest group of modern music artists ever :biggrin:
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It's nice to see this thread getting more attention since Ulver is pretty much the greatest group of modern music artists ever :biggrin:
Porcupine Tree.
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No. Ulver.
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No. Porcupine Tree.
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Double no. Ulver.
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It's nice to see this thread getting more attention since Ulver is pretty much the greatest group of modern music artists ever :biggrin:
Porcupine Tree.
:rollin :rollin :rollin
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NO U
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What the shit is a Porcupine Tree anyway?
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i'm obsessed with both, but i think i'd pick Ulver every time :o
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i'm obsessed with both, but i think i'd pick Ulver every time :o
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The greatest group of modern music is obviously Vanden Plas, you shitheads.
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The greatest group of modern music is obviously Vanden Plas, you shitheads.
Ah, shit. How could I forget them?
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As much as I love Porcupine Tree (them being one of my favorite bands), there's really no competition that Ulver crushes them in this category.
Ulver are always evolving their sound, and it's one of the few bands where I feel like it's more art then just music.
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As much as I love Porcupine Tree (them being one of my favorite bands), there's really no competition that Ulver crushes them in this category.
Ulver are always evolving their sound, and it's one of the few bands where I feel like it's more art then just music.
Fucking this. They're not making music, they're making art. I don't care how utterly pretentious that sounds :lol
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Radiohead
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Radiohead are a good example, but still... Ulver.
My first impression of the new album is that it's just ART.
It's the only way I can describe it, take 'Stone Angels' for example, that shit ain't just a song - ITS ART. :heart
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Radiohead
Still wouldn't say best, but they're a bit closer, even in terms of making music as art, than Ulver, and a damn sight nearer than PT are.
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As much as I love Porcupine Tree (them being one of my favorite bands), there's really no competition that Ulver crushes them in this category.
Ulver are always evolving their sound, and it's one of the few bands where I feel like it's more art then just music.
Fucking this. They're not making music, they're making art. I don't care how utterly pretentious that sounds :lol
That's good, because it sounds completely and utterly pretentious. :lol
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As much as I love Porcupine Tree (them being one of my favorite bands), there's really no competition that Ulver crushes them in this category.
Ulver are always evolving their sound, and it's one of the few bands where I feel like it's more art then just music.
Fucking this. They're not making music, they're making art. I don't care how utterly pretentious that sounds :lol
Dude. Just.... dude.
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I called myself out on it as I wrote it :lol
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I lol'd.
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As much as I love Porcupine Tree (them being one of my favorite bands), there's really no competition that Ulver crushes them in this category.
Ulver are always evolving their sound, and it's one of the few bands where I feel like it's more art then just music.
Fucking this. They're not making music, they're making art. I don't care how utterly pretentious that sounds :lol
That's good, because it sounds completely and utterly pretentious. :lol
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But seriously, it's a pretty weird statement to say one band makes 'music' while the other makes 'art', and then to use that as a reason for why they're better/worse.
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I like bands that make spaghetti, personally.
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I like bands that make spaghetti, personally.
:tup
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If we're talking pretentiousness I'd say that (almost) all music was art in some way. All 'serious' music at least, if you know what I mean.
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All 'serious' music at least, if you know what I mean.
I like bands that make spaghetti, personally.
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Since some has already done this, my view on the new album (song by song and then overall):
February MMX
My first impression was that this sounded very Blood Inside-ish, slightly more uptempo then we normally hear Ulver.
I think the whole sound of this song is very interesting, because the drums makes it uptempo, but instead of guitars they focus on piano and weird sounds, it just sounds very interesting.
This song got stuck pretty much right away, Garm has some sweet vocals during the chorus, and as Portrucci mentioned, I also dig the breakdown and then the part after when the song kinda starts to build up again.
Great song overall.
Norwegian Gothic
Strong Shadows of the Sun-vibe on this one, a pretty calm ambient-track focusing on Garm's vocals and some weird noise.
Kinda subtle song that really grows for each listen, the violin is pretty neat too.
Not really sure what else to write about it, I guess that sums it up. :P
Providence
An early favorite, this song has several elements that are all reasons why I love this band.
The piano-pattern throughout the song is just lovely, the dual-singing between Garm and the chick (no idea who she is) works pretty good, I'm not really sure what I think about her voice standalone, but in this song it adds variety and makes it more interesting.
The middle of this section is just Ulver at their best when doing weird sound effects, and a lot of the sounds remind me of a jungle for some reason.
Very cool song overall.
September IV
More piano, another great song.
Garm delivers some more superb singing, and this song was another instant favorite, it just seemed to click very early.
The ending of the song is pretty sweet as well.
England
Another early favorite, a song that seemed to click right away.
Again, more great singing from Garm, and some fantastic music.
Island
Love this one, and the journey it takes.
Starts off as a somewhat calm song, about halfway in we get some really cool sea-sound effects, seagull's and such, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
Hearing the waves and such just suits perfectly with the title, and I love it.
Then the song get's really weird, and the ending is probably my favorite part of the whole song, so dark and noisy, so perfect.
Stone Angels
One of the most epic songs I've heard, this one reminded me a lot of No-Man/Bass Communion, at least music-wise.
It's so unique, not only on this album, but in the Ulver-catalog overall.
I'm a huge sucker for beautiful ambient music, and that combined with a great poem read by Daniel just makes it even more superb.
I can see this becoming a bit of a 'love it or hate it'-song, because some people would say that it drags or that its boring, but they couldn't be more wrong.
To me, this song is perfect just as it is.
Overall thoughts:
Fantastic album overall.
The length is just right, it doesn't feel neither too long or short, it has a great variety soundwise with a song like February MMX being more uptempo, and having more downtempo and calm songs like Norwegian Gothic, while still maintaining a certain red thread throughout the album.
It definitely sounds like Ulver, with a few songs clinging strongly of the past (Blood Inside and Shadows of the Sun), but still having many new elements, and a song like Stone Angels which is like nothing they've ever done before.
To keep it short, I love this album. :heart
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Just listened to WOTR. It's good, fine, but I don't think it's anywhere near as good as you guys seem to. Not in my top 5 of 2011 so far, at least.
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Are you basing that opinion on 1 listen?
Personally I need to give an album at least 5 spins before I can give it an honest opinion.
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Often there will be something I kind of like on first listen, and I always accept the need for it to grow on me to get even better. With WOTR, it's the first time that I've felt like even though it will grow on me with more listens, I'm not really gonna enjoy it much no matter how many spins it gets. Never really had this before, kind of disappointed with the album frankly.
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That's kinda lame, I didn't think much of it first, but all the songs really grows on you.
It's Ulver after all, you really should spin it more times and let it sink in.
I'm glad that I never gave up on certain artists, my first listen of In Rainbows (and Radiohead in general) made me think: "why are these guys even famous? this shit doesn't have any quality" (well maybe not that harsh, but something like that)
Anyhow, when I forced myself to listen to it over and over, eventually I thought: "Boy was I wrong."
So yeah, point of the story: listening to something that might not be good at first will eventually lead to something. ;)
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Yeah, I'm definitely aware of that; about 9 out of my top 10 albums ever didn't do much for me at all on first listen, and I was the same with Radiohead. But the difference between those situations and this one was; I just didn't feel like WOTR needed to grow on me. It's just kind of... what I expected, and that's fine. I will give it a few more listens and let it grow on me a bit, but I know it won't develop into something I really love, which I thought with Radiohead and even Tool.
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Yeah, I'm definitely aware of that; about 9 out of my top 10 albums ever didn't do much for me at all on first listen, and I was the same with Radiohead. But the difference between those situations and this one was; I just didn't feel like WOTR needed to grow on me. It's just kind of... what I expected, and that's fine. I will give it a few more listens and let it grow on me a bit, but I know it won't develop into something I really love, which I thought with Radiohead and even Tool.
To me it sounds like you've already made up your mind, and no matter what, that's that. :P
I kinda know how you feel, I had a similar experience with The King of Limbs which I had skyhigh expectations for, but now I just feel kinda 'meh' about it.
Hopefully Wars of the Roses will grow on you though, personally I love it. :)
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I'm hoping it will, but as I say, this is the first time when I've just 'known' that this is basically it in terms of me enjoying it.
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listen more
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But Laura Stevenson and the Cans.
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But Laura Stevenson and the Cans.
Oh shit I didn't know anyone else on here listened to her.
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I got WOTR as a birthday gift today. :laugh:
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And I'm not too familiar with Metamorphosis. I've only listened to it a couple of times, although I still like it.
i love that EP. actually, unless i specifically want songs on Perdition City, i usually 'preface' my listening of that album with Metamorphosis.
also, if you want a 'complete PC sessions' kind of thing, you could just do a massive Metamorphosis - PC - Silencing the Singing spree. (i'd throw in Silence Teaches You How to Sing too, but it's not a leftover.)
So I tried this a few days ago and it's a very nice experience to listen to the three releases together. I felt like Metamorphosis and Perdition City have a similar atmosphere and it's probably why I rarely listen to the EP. If I'm in the mood for that kind of music I'd rather play Perdition City (longer and better IMO).
I do have to say that I can't believe I overlooked Of Wolves & Vibrancy for so long. Easily one of the best songs Ulver's ever done.
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in a way, the atmosphere and nebulousness of Silencing the Singing works well as a post-Perdition City comedown. there's a certain amount of paranoia and tension that builds up to "Nowhere/Catastrophe," which itself isn't the most satisfactory ending for the kind of album PC is (a bit like ending Wars of the Roses with "February MMX").
i think the first three tracks on Metamorphosis are of the best Ulver tracks, really. you can't beat the atmosphere + sheer beauty of "Gnosis," and "Limbo Central" would fit right into the first half of PC if you placed it well (making "Theme From Perdition City" a worthy subtitle!). "Of Wolves & Vibrance" is definitely cool, although the straightforward wop-wop-pre-dubstep sound is a bit far away from PC.
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I played Perdition City for my dad and his girlfriend tonight. They really dug it. They kept remarking about how it really suited nighttime, and my dad mentioned that it sounds like music that would accompany a film. :hat
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footage from the upcoming DVD: https://imjat.tumblr.com/post/3123222588
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I'm really, really happy that they're finally doing a dvd. The live aspect of Ulver is something I've never experienced further than a shitty bootleg. This should be awesome!
Edit: What the hell was the thing with the naked old guy on stage?
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he's on stage during a song, though i don't recall which. oddly fitting imagery though, don't you think?
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Looks awesome!
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The production/direction on WotR is beyond words. :tup
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I really love the new album. It's growing on me although I already love it. This band is so consistent it's not even funny.
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I really love the new album. It's growing on me although I already love it. This band is so consistent it's not even funny.
Nattens Madrigal.
Nah but I get what you mean. :biggrin:
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I mean the last few in the current Ulver era have all been masterpieces.
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I'm on my first listen of Ulver now... listening to their newest record. It's not really grabbing me at all, but I'll definitely give it time to grow. Are there other albums better, in your opinions?
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Yes. I think Blood Inside is their best, but a lot of people prefer Perdition City. Shadows of the Sun is a great album too...
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I'm on my first listen of Ulver now... listening to their newest record. It's not really grabbing me at all, but I'll definitely give it time to grow. Are there other albums better, in your opinions?
Perdition City, Blood Inside and Shadows of the Sun are normally considered their 'holy trio', and I would probably rank them in that order.
However, I do think Wars of the Roses was a brilliant album, gotta spin it soon again, been a while since I last heard it. :)
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I'm on my first listen of Ulver now... listening to their newest record. It's not really grabbing me at all, but I'll definitely give it time to grow. Are there other albums better, in your opinions?
Shadows of the Sun is my favorite, with Blood Inside next. War of the Roses would probably come in around 4th or 5th.
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I'm on my first listen of Ulver now... listening to their newest record. It's not really grabbing me at all, but I'll definitely give it time to grow. Are there other albums better, in your opinions?
Definitely Perdition City.
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Is this album a grower? It feels like there is something there, but I just can't really reach it. Like, I appreciate the art of the music, but I'm not really pulled in at all. :-\
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Is this album a grower? It feels like there is something there, but I just can't really reach it. Like, I appreciate the art of the music, but I'm not really pulled in at all. :-\
I would definitely say that it is a grower.
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Is this album a grower? It feels like there is something there, but I just can't really reach it. Like, I appreciate the art of the music, but I'm not really pulled in at all. :-\
I would definitely say that it is a grower.
This. I loved it right away though. Maybe it's because I was already familiar with the band.
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England and Stone Angels were really good. :tup
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I love the whole album to be honest, it really has all those qualities that makes me love Ulver.
'Stone Angels' is very unique in their catalog, it's quite possibly their most pretentious song, but I just love it.
So unique, so beautiful. :heart
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PERDITONN CITYYYYYYYYYY!
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Has anyone here listened to Daniel O'Sullivan's project Mothlite? I've had Flax of Reverie for a while, but it's just clicking right now; It's fantastic! It's almost like a mix of Ulver and Toby Driver.
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It's almost like a mix of Ulver and Toby Driver.
Sounds amazing!! I'm ry and check it out!
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Kristoffer Rygg responded to me on facebook!! :metal
Blu-ray actually. Top modern stuff. I think it will be available soon. Late October/early November.
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What did you ask him? :o
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What was going on with the new Ulver live DVD!!
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Oh, can't wait for it. :)
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This ad was included in a Kscope booklet with the new Anathema release.
(https://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i374/WhatABoringName/Ulver_LiveInConcert.jpg)
Strange they decided to start promoting it without a release date... and without updating the content on the mentioned website. Looking forward to this though. :tup
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Press Release for The Norwegian National Opera
(DVD & Blu-ray)
Stunning concert from the dark music legends – captured live in high definition in Oslo
Ulver returned earlier this year with their new album Wars Of The Roses. Early pioneers of Norwegian black metal, the band have continually evolved throughout their career and now stand as living legends of the dark music industry, blending rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions along with noise and experimental music to create ground- breaking material.
Until recently however the band had remained exclusively within the studio. This changed in May 2009 when the band accepted an invitation to appear at the Norwegian Festival Of Literature. The success of this gig lead to them embarking on a string of other gigs in 2009 and 2010, selling out prestigious venues such as the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Volksbühne in Berlin and La Cigale in Paris before they returned to their homeland for this landmark gig at The Norwegian Opera House.
The 2 hour concert married tracks from throughout the band’s catalogue to stunning visuals to create a spectacle fitting for such a grand venue. The evening was captured on 6 HD cameras and the audio has been mixed for this release in the band’s own Crystal Canyon Studios.
Packaged in a limited edition 32 page rigid digibook 2 disc Set (Blu-ray and dvd)
Chapters:
Moon Piece
Eos
Let the Children Go
Little Blue Bird
Rock Massif Part 2
For the Love of God
Operator
In the Red
England
Funebre
Hallways of Always
Theme from Silence Teaches You How to sing
A Cold Kiss (Porn Piece Part 2)
A Memorable Fancy (The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Plates 16-17)
Like Music
Not saved
Legs Piece
For more info on Ulver visit kscopemusic.com/ulver
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Awesome!! :tup
EDIT: Wait is there a place where we can order it or.. ?
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I'm really digging Wars of the Roses at the moment, i think it tops Shadows, and is their best since Perdition. Do people agree or not?
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I might agree.
Hard to compare, but Wars of the Roses is just brilliant.
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I don't know... I still think Blood Inside is their best album. But their last 4 are really hard to rank.
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Shadows of the Sun if my favorite.
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https://www.kscopemusic.com/ulver/thenorwegiannationalopera/
YES
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prrrrrrreordered!
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This band is so good... they might even top Unexpect as my top favorite :heart
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Btw how Wars of the Roses is growing for you guys?
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Everytime I listen to it, I always end up skipping "Stone Angels" like half-way through. :lol
Otherwise... decent album. There are some very good songs and some songs I don't care for and it's pretty much stayed that way since I first heard it.
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Btw how Wars of the Roses is growing for you guys?
I still love it, and would say that it's quality-wise as good as the others in the "holy" trio. (Perdition City, Blood Inside and Shadows)
Really digging all of the songs on it, if I had to pick a favorite I'd say Stone Angels, it's just something unique about the song, the ambient feel, but still being very Ulver-ish.
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It really is a headphone album... with so much going on on the subtle side.
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i used to be fairly "meh" about "Norwegian Gothic" and "Islands," but now i enjoy quite a bit, especially the latter.
"February MMX," "Providence," "September IV" and "England" are still massively successful, though!
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Stone Angels is so awesome.
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LOL I forgot about this review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8342-perdition-city/
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LOL I forgot about this review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8342-perdition-city/
ಠ_ಠ
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Is there any music that site actually likes?
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So yeah the new DVD is AWESOME!! I didn't know Fennesz was on it! The visual art, the performance, the music... everything is so deep and dark and beautiful. :hefdaddy
Anyone else saw it?
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I actually just got around to listening to Wars of the Roses the other day. It was pretty good! Should probably listen again sometime soon.
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Honestly I have no idea what ever happened with the DVD.
It was supposed to come out in November, I remember ordering it back then, I haven't heard a single thing about it since, but I figured that my order was only delayed, but it hasn't even been available for piracy, which made me wonder what happened to it.
The interesting phenomenon is that I haven't heard a single person say anything about it (or it being delayed), almost like everyone just forgot about it. :lol
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I ordered it too back then in November but somehow it never came to my door. I realized they never billed me anything so I just ordered it again and got it within two weeks!
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Is there any way to buy the Metamorphosis EP on CD???
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Is there any way to buy the Metamorphosis EP on CD???
https://www.amazon.com/Metamorphosis-Ulver/dp/B00002MW3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329859526&sr=8-1
Otherwise I don't really know. :/
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i had to really hunt for Metamorphosis at a decent price. i'm sure i prolly ended up paying around $40 USD, so don't lose hope ;) it just takes a while for sellers to show up with it.
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Maybe they'll reprint it eventually? D:
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fuck yeah i just won the bid on ebay!!! :metal
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fuck yeah i just won the bid on ebay!!! :metal
How much did you get it for? =)
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37$! Which is fine for me! :tup I placed my bid at the last minute and was lucky to get away with it! Man, these things are so stressful! :lol
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just got Themes from Blake on vinyl the other day. haven't listened yet, but they split the sides intelligently, and the redone art is just as gorgeous as the original (though less textural).
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https://www.kscopemusic.com/ulver/childhoodsend/
FUCK YEAH!! :metal
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Yeah I saw that. I'm not really sure what to think (about the 60's covers part) but it's a new album from Ulver, so I am excited never the less.
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Childhood's End is really good. I think one part that appeals to me is that I don't really know the originals, so it still sounds very fresh and new, even if it's all covers.
I kinda regret not pre-ordering the album now, maybe I can order it at the recordstore and get my dad to pay for it, I really want to hold on to my own money as much as I can. :lol
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Been listening to the William Blake album today. It's almost on par with Blood Inside in terms of weirdness, but with a bit more sanity and folk flare thrown in. I'm appreciating it a lot more than when I first listened to it awhile ago. Proverbs of Hell Plates 7-10 is all kinds of :metal :metal :metal
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THe new album is great I think! I wasn't sure at first but it's really growing on me...
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THe new album is great I think! I wasn't sure at first but it's really growing on me...
I really like it! Favorites would probably be "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night" and "I Can See the Light".
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Childhood's End is rad to the bone. Really cool concept and excellent execution.
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I really hope the next Ulver albums has lots of vocals, because as much as I love Perdition City for example (which is still my favorite Ulver-album), Garm's vocals are too good to not use, on Wars of the Roses they were used quite a lot, and on this album as well. :hat
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Childhood's End is rad to the bone. Really cool concept and excellent execution.
Yes! :hefdaddy
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I have to confess that I don't really 'get' Shadows of the Sun.
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I have to confess that I don't really 'get' Shadows of the Sun.
it literally took me years. after the bombast and eccentricity of Blood Inside, the subtlety and somber ambience of Shadows is the opposite end of their spectrum, and thus harder to get into (unless you're huge on ambient/drone). if you do like Blood Inside, i would recommend trying a playlist that follows BI with A Quick Fix of Melancholy, then Shadows — even though Quick Fix came out before BI, it's a fantastic bridge between the two albums, imo, and makes a natural flow between the two LPs. if you have the 2ish hours to spare, i think it might help phrase Shadows in a better way.
if you're more into non-BI Ulver, idk how else to 'prepare' SOTS except to bombard you with Teachings in Silence and maybe 1st Decade in the Machines.
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Shadows is kind of my favorite Ulver release, but it is a very mood-oriented album. Way too dark and gloomy unless you're willing to sit down and be alone with it.
Vigil is one of my favorite songs ever.
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Shadows wasn't hard at all for me to get into. It's a beautiful album! :tup
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THE NEW ALBUM IS SO GOOD WTF
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So I just listened to my first Ulver album, Blood Inside. Holy shit why did i not try these guys out sooner.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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So I just listened to my first Ulver album, Blood Inside. Holy shit why did i not try these guys out sooner.
Blood Inside is pretty cool. It gets better and better every time I listen to it.
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"Our coming concert commisioned by and composed for Tromsø Kulturhus and their 35 piece chamber orchestra will take place Friday September 21 2012, twice. The mass is new electronic/symphonic music specifically written for the evening, and it is grave. Again we go to the job with great humility and a dash of horror. The performance will be recorded and form the basis of Ulver's next full-flegded album. Title TBA. Those expecting rock opera... Think again."
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The mass is new electronic/symphonic music specifically written for the evening, and it is grave.
me gusta.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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this bump will probably make people think there's Ulver news buuuuuuuut just popping in to say Bergtatt is awesome
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Bergtatt is pretty sweet. But I kinda prefer the newer albums.
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Trailer for the new album Messe I.X-VI.X: https://vimeo.com/69377561 (https://vimeo.com/69377561)
Pre-orders: https://www.neuroparecords.com/products.php?TRICK051 (https://www.neuroparecords.com/products.php?TRICK051)
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Well, it sounds good! When is it due?
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Well, it sounds good! When is it due?
August 1
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Good! I've been listening through Ulver's non black metal discography for the first time these days. Perdition City, and Lost In Moments in particular are just jaw dropping pieces. :omg:
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Sooo... I've just completed my first listen of the black metal trilogy. Bergtatt is amazing, and probably my favourite of the three. Kveldssanger is great as well, some amazing folk, I love the vocals and the instruments here, but it isn't as varied as Bergtatt. Nattens Madrigal is, I suspect, a good album but it is absolutely PAINFUL to listen to. I get why it sounds like that, but I still can't enjoy it, which is a shame, because the music seems to be really, really good.
Overall, I'd say that Bergtatt is now my favourite Ulver album, out of those that I've heard. And while they are all very, very different, I'd rank them like this:
1. Bergtatt
2. Shadows of the Sun
3. Kveldssanger
4. Blood Inside
5. Wars of the Roses
6. Perdition City
7. Nattens Madrigal
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Perdition City is still their best imo.
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interesting thought exercise, as every album is so different:
Perdition City
Themes from Blake / Metamorphosis
Shadows of the Sun
Wars of the Roses
Teachings in Silence / A Quick Fix of Melancholy
Blood Inside
Svidd Neger
Lyckantropen Themes
1st Decade in the Machines
Childhood's End
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Just finished Wars Of The Roses.
Note to Nightwish: That's how you end an album with spoken word.
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New album's finally here: https://ulver.bandcamp.com/album/messe-i-x-vi-x (https://ulver.bandcamp.com/album/messe-i-x-vi-x)
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Listening. Sounds very minimalistic so far, but I like it a lot.
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Will listen to it in the morning :tup
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Messe is just great. As much as I enjoyed Wars of the Roses I think this one tops it.
Glad to see this band continue to innovate and do so amazingly well. :tup
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"As Syrians pour in, Lebanon grapples with ghosts of a bloody past"
This is a song title, guys. :|
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Sounds like something Goodspeed would call a movement of a song, tbh.
In other news, Messe is pretty fucking awesome, but I have to be in a certain mood for it. But when I am... :hefdaddy
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the music sounds like Godspeed too! that opening track in particular.
really love "Glamour Box," "Son of Man" and "Mother of Mercy." classics.
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Yeah the music sounds a bit like GYBE, I felt that vibe too. First listen was pretty underwhelming, but I liked it a lot more the second time.
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So I've given it some more time to sink in. WOAH, THIS IS REALLY GOOD!
Great atmospheric album. Probably my favorite Ulver album to date, not including Shadows of the Sun (not sure anything will ever pass that up). I also love that it's only 45 minutes. Too often, today, bands aren't able to produce an album that is both good and the right length. This here is JUST what the doctor ordered. Not too much, not too little.
Thank you, Ulver :heart
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I listened to my first Ulver album (Blood Inside) a couple of days ago and it's pretty weird, but I think I could like it after multiple listens. I'll check Wars of the Roses out next...
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Wars of the Roses is amazing, but it's not as busy as Blood Inside. Just so you don't have any wrong expectations.
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speaking of less busy, you should check out Shadows of the Sun next.
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speaking of less busy, you should check out Shadows of the Sun next.
Unfortunately SOTS isn't available in the libraries here - they only have Blood Inside, WOTR, the debut album and some compilation. However, if I end up becoming a fan I'll definitely get SOTS; I even saw a copy in the local record store the other day!
Wars of the Roses is amazing, but it's not as busy as Blood Inside. Just so you don't have any wrong expectations.
That sounds promising as I prefer less busy music in general!
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I might be the only person with that opinion, but the debut album is actually my favourite Ulver album.
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You also need to check out Perdition City if you can get a hold of it. I think it's their best.
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speaking of less busy, you should check out Shadows of the Sun next.
Unfortunately SOTS isn't available in the libraries here
What is this library, and why can't I find one like it?
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speaking of less busy, you should check out Shadows of the Sun next.
Unfortunately SOTS isn't available in the libraries here
What is this library, and why can't I find one like it?
It's fucking Finland, one of the countries where people have a healthy relationship towards music.
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Libraries here in the US of A really suck. I realized that when I went to Iceland a couple years ago and saw their cd collections
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I got Messe after someone put it at 5th in his 2013 Top 30. Son of Man blew me away and the fact he said that this wasn't even one of their best albums made want to check their other records. I'm still getting on them but Perdition City and Shadows of the Sun are really, really amazing. So sad that these guys have just started touring recently and only in Europe. I hope to see them live one day.
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I'm still bummed over the fact that I missed the opportunity to see them back in 2010. I saw a poster that they were playing in my city, and I had also been meaning to get into the band (heard good things), and literally as I started falling in love with the band, I realized I already missed the concert. Despite living neighbor with Norway, they haven't played here since then. :-X
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I'm still bummed over the fact that I missed the opportunity to see them back in 2010.
Oh man that's awful. I hope they get to England this winter - I'll be there on an English course. Btw, Messe it's been growing on me so much, that it's actually my fav Ulver album :eek.
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They've remastered their 3 black metal albums to include them in a boz set, along with unreleased tracks, demos, etc. It also comes in vinyl.
https://bravewords.com/news/ulver-trolsk-sortmetall-1993-1997-box-set-details-revealed (https://)
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Neato.
Depending on the price point, that's pretty close to being a must buy for me as I do not yet own those Ulver albums. Hopefully the box set will be fairly affordable.
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If Nattens Madrigal ends up sounding like the music was actually played within a twenty meter range of the recording device, then I shall consider that an improvement and might even end up acquiring this thing.
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The first thing I thought when I saw that the albums were being remastered was 'Oh, I should wait and see if they sound worse than the previous releases' followed almost immediately by 'Wait, is it even possible for Nattens Madrigal to sound any worse than it already does?' The answer, of course being, no, though I'm sure that there's at least one person all decked out in leather, corpse paint, antler helmet, and druid robes who will, very vociferously I might add, say 'Yes' to that question. That person should probably stop eating the mushrooms growing under the oak trees.
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It seems that both EPs, Silence Teaches You How To Sing and Silencing the Singing are getting a viny edition too.
https://www.ampullae-audio.com/product/ulver-silence-teaches-you-how-to-sing-silencing-the-singing
If Nattens Madrigal ends up sounding like the music was actually played within a twenty meter range of the recording device, then I shall consider that an improvement and might even end up acquiring this thing.
I hope the tapes were originally recorded with something better than this.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qECSAqMmZN0/Tyr10m46lZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/fXZsfDioUig/s1600/black+metal+recording+studio.jpg_thumb.jpg)
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Neato.
Depending on the price point, that's pretty close to being a must buy for me as I do not yet own those Ulver albums. Hopefully the box set will be fairly affordable.
It's $60 once shipping is taken into account on the CM Distro's store (the American one). 5 CDs for that amount plus a hundred page book seems to be worth the money IMO. I just listened to those three albums for the first time not too long ago and I loved it and was thinking of getting the box set myself.
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(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10484920_10154866037545422_4628241894609997271_n.jpg?oh=60cdd38e9f167567c66428c2ba1dabf2&oe=54E57AB9&__gda__=1423558380_8e4dc06c16ae5e3c9759c2117827892d)
Just look at them, they're so... gorgeous.
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So the boxset has been out for some days, and I've managed to give it a spin to the trilogy. First of all, these albums are louder than the original, a bit more compressed. But they sound glorious. I was thoroughly surprised that Nattens Madrigal actually sounded good. Yeah, it still feels like it was all recorded with cheap microphones, but the guitars are cleaner, and the drums actually feel more real, like they weren't recorded 20m away from the studio - just around 15m or 10m.
Bergtatt is even more superb than before. It already sounded good for a black metal album, but now the guitars and drums rise up and shine - and with the great treatment of vocals, now I can really see that Gram had an outstanding talent for his young age. Didn't pay enough attention to Kveldssanger, but it sounds nice and clear. Never heard the original recording of Vargnatt, thus can't compare it. But it's middle way between Bergtatt and Nattens Madrigal in terms of sound quality.
All in all, a great remix of these classic albums. Although a bit loud, they sound better than ever, and Nattens Madrigal is finally listenable. Go and get them.
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So, today Perdition City is 15 years old. Damn, it just doesn't sound like from the beginning of the millennium - it's... timeless. Although I wasn't a fan of it on the first listens (despite the amazing Lost in Times), it has grown on me a lot - but I still have to be on the mood to appreciate it.
What are your thoughts on it? :)
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I still think it's their best album by quite a wide margin. That's no bash on the other albums though. What makes Perdition City my number 1 is that neo-noir feel to it. Compared to some of the other Ulver albums, it perfectly captures an atmosphere and manages to stay within that atmosphere throughout the album. Really just a work of art. :heart
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agreed it's timeless and a consistent neo-noir art meisterwerk. it'll likely never be removed from my #1 album of all time spot.
what really gets me too is the overall strength of Ulver during this period – Metamorphosis is brilliant (try prefacing PC with it!), and so is Teachings in Silence. it's like they could do nothing wrong.
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Glad to see that there is a topic to talk about Ulver.
So they´ll be releasing a new record in January (i think).
House of Mythology proudly presents the new Ulver gatefold double album vinyl (also available on CD), with over 80 minutes worth of material. This album consists of multitracked and studio-enhanced live, mostly improvisational, rock and electronic soundscapes, 2/3 of which has never been heard before.
In Newton’s basic laws of motion – those which lie at the heart of modern physics – the paradox stands that constant velocity is essentially as natural as being at rest. True to form, in the now twenty-two-year-old life of Ulver, only one constant has remained, that being a forward-driving spirit that has moved this mercurial Norwegian-based collective forever through challenges and adventure anew, irrespective of reductive genre pigeonholing. Moreover, their latest voyage into the unknown is no different, marking another new chapter for an outfit characterised by wild and inspiring unpredictability, along with a fresh triumph for one of modern music’s most iconoclastic forces.
The basis for ATGCLVLSSCAP – which the band has been working with under the moniker ‘12’ – arrives from recordings made at twelve different live shows that Ulver performed in February 2014, in which band the band vaulted into the deep end of an improvisatory approach to their performance. As Kristoffer Rygg, the prime mover of the band since its inception puts it wryly, “The tour was to be an experiment, kind of loose and scary for a band as ‘set in their ways’ as us.”
Although the line-up for these shows remained similar to that on 2012’s psychedelic covers album Childhood’s End, and the band had taken succour from the sounds and headspace they explored on that record, this was another break into new territory, using their live energy and spontaneity as the fuel for aural explorations that would surprise even the band themselves. “At the end of any album process, I can’t wait to do something else,” comments Rygg. ”So yeah, it is partly borne out of that feeling, being a bit bored with the circumstances. It was quite liberating to do something more in the moment. One night a jam could be five minutes, and the next it could be fifteen. We couldn’t have captured these songs in a studio environment.”
Once the tour was over, it was down to his bandmate Daniel O’Sullivan to take charge of these multitrack recordings, sculpting and editing hours of material in his North London enclave, formerly owned by charismatic artist and Coil associate, the sadly departed Ian Johnstone – as O’Sullivan noted, “The hungry ghosts of the now empty house appear to be burrowing into this record.” Anders Møller, Kristoffer Rygg and Tore Ylwizaker got involved a bit later, honing things from their end in Subsonic Society and Oak Hill Studios, Oslo, before the vinyl cutting process took place at THD Vinyl Mastering, also in Oslo, in which the band was fully involved in the crucial initial cut of the 14” lacquer. What resulted is the widescreen sweep and atmospheric splendour of ATGCLVLSSCAP, ultimately a piece of work that exists above and beyond any conventional live recording, rather a hallucinatory travelogue as potent an experience to bear witness to as it was to construct.
As always in the world of Ulver, influences are disparate and diverse, yet as Rygg notes, “It’s quite tributary in a way, there are clear nods to sounds from the past.” Many of these dwell in progressive, electronic and krautrock realms, heralding a lifelong love within the band for the music of the 70s – the fiery mantras of ‘Om Hanumate Namah’ and the motorik drive of ‘Cromagnosis’ draw an astral trajectory between the propulsion of Kraftwerk/Neu! and the ritualistic intensity of prime Amon Düül II, whilst the spirits of both Klaus Schulze and John Carpenter are audible in the electronic soundscapes of ‘Desert/Dawn’, not to mention the Bernard Herrmann touch in the closing ‘Solaris’. Even when the band revisits an earlier gem from 2000’s Perdition City album, as on ‘Nowhere (Sweet Sixteen)’, its reinvigorated by their expansive and emotionally charged approach.
“We always feel like, independently of what kind of instrumentation we use, we’re still playing the same nocturnal stuff,” laughs Rygg. “There are a few motifs that keep recurring all the time in what we do, and if it’s in a rock form or an electronic form, it’s always there.” Yet as true as this may be, by shaking up their creative process, the band have summoned up a unique testimony to the creative power of a mighty force who remain blissfully free of genre or convention, ATGCLVLSSCAP is progressive in the truest sense of the word, a record that may be this capricious band’s pièce-de-resistance.
Promo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jRTrv8etw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jRTrv8etw)
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"Cromagnosis" is already out because it was played in a podcast. Unbelievable.
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"Cromagnosis" is already out because it was played in a podcast. Unbelievable.
Link, please? I'm pretty excited for this one :o. :caffeine:
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"Cromagnosis" is already out because it was played in a podcast. Unbelievable.
Link, please? I'm pretty excited for this one :o. :caffeine:
Per their Facebook: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/baba-yagas-hut-30th-october-2015/
I think it's second-last.
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if you sign the house of mithology newsletter, you receive an e-mail with links to a couple of previews of the new songs.
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There two new promo videos for the new album on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgG5R7mj7cN6bGvkJXPOidg (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgG5R7mj7cN6bGvkJXPOidg)
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So Prog magazine made a little recap (https://prog.teamrock.com/news/2015-11-16/ulver-reveal-further-album-details) of all the promotional material of the album so far, and to be honest, everything sounds fucking awesome :caffeine: :dangerwillrobinson:
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The band's discography, with the exception of the Trilogy, is on sale with 40% of discount right now on their Bandcamp (https://ulver.bandcamp.com/music). Also, their new album can be preordered now.
PS: I have listened to it already, and it's amazing :hefdaddy
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I can't believe they returned to the sound of Bergtatt :tup ;) :tup
In all seriousness though, this is a good album so far and I think it'll only get better if I give it a few more listens.
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They're doing black metal again?! I MUST GET THIS ALBUM IMMEDIATELY
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They're doing black metal again?! I MUST GET THIS ALBUM IMMEDIATELY
he's lying to you, it's not black metal
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They're doing black metal again?! I MUST GET THIS ALBUM IMMEDIATELY
[/quote
Sorry dude.... :-\
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Hrm.
You are cruel and heartless man, Nelson.
It still sounds amazing though.
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So yeah that new album was pretty damn good. Definitely gonna get repeated listens from me. :hefdaddy
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Fav tracks for me are Glammer Hammer, Cromagnosis, and Nowhere :hefdaddy
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Definitely a masterwork. Up there with Perdition City, Blood Inside, Themes from Blake.
I love every side. The opening is emotional, Coil-resonant (I think the title of the first track is referential to the fabled England's Hidden Reverse), reflective of past works in new and brilliant perspectives; side 2 brings on the new, krautrock-inspired method; side 3 is a beautiful slab of Klaus Shulze drone; and the final side returns to the familiar, with the reimagining of "Tomorrow Never Knows" especially meeting "Not Saved" from the Opera release on the brilliance-of-new-arrangements meter.
My vinyl won't get here til the end of February, though.
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I am addicted to the song Ecclesiastes, Garm´s performance on it is incredible, almost soul-singer like.
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So, their new album, The Assassination Of Julius Cesar comes out in April. I am very excited to find out what path they've took this time....the confirmation that Haavard is playing guitar (probably acoustic) is a very good sign IMHO!
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Cautiously optimistic. Massive fanboy, loved the Zodiac album (I just bought the bloody cassette) – but hated Childhood's End, and some of the titles and imagery for Julius Caesar are very Childhood's Endy. Not buying until I hear something.
However, I loved Wars of the Roses, and TAOJC has a song called "Southern Gothic," perhaps an answer to "Norwegian Gothic" (or simply the acknowledgement of the genre of these songs?). Hence the optimism.
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Childhood's End is a 60's psychodelic rock cover album. I think they did a fine job with it, but i don't compare it to the rest of their discography. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from TAOJC, and that's always exciting.
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Just wanted to mention that Ulver is releasing a new album tomorrow - "The Assassination of Julius Caesar"
Here is a taste - enjoy!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0Kb4bFNzg
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Tomorrow already? Exciting! I have gradually become a huge fan of theirs over the last 2 years or so. I won't listen to the teaser, I'll listen to the thing in full when it's released.
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The album is out, and it's great! :heart
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The album is out, and it's great! :heart
So far I am impressed. But need more listens as there seems to be a lot of nuances on this album that does not reveal itself on first listen. Favourite song on album as of now is "1969"
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My early favorites are Southern Gothic and So Falls The World.
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My early favorites are Southern Gothic and So Falls The World.
Yeah, those are great - they are really growing on me, which is always a good sign. Lyrics seems well thought out as well - "Tragedies repeat themselves in perfect circles" in So Falls The World is such a cool line.
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My early favorites are Southern Gothic and So Falls The World.
Yeah, those are great - they are really growing on me, which is always a good sign. Lyrics seems well thought out as well - "Tragedies repeat themselves in perfect circles" in So Falls The World is such a cool line.
Yeah, the lyrics are really good.
"I want to tell you something/about the grace of fading things" has caught my ear, so beautiful and apropriate with the vibe of the album.
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I love that what they call "Coming Home" is the first time since 2001 they've sounded like Perdition City (despite the live-ish version of "Nowhere/Catastrophe" on the last album). Happy to hear it.
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TAOJC is getting better at each listen. Possibly top 3 Ulver material for me.
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Yeah, this album is astounding. Really, really good. I don't know if it would crack a top X list yet, since my top 3 Ulver is pretty much set in stone and I can't say how long this new record will remain 'fresh', so to speak.
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I love that what they call "Coming Home" is the first time since 2001 they've sounded like Perdition City (despite the live-ish version of "Nowhere/Catastrophe" on the last album). Happy to hear it.
Really? It doesn't sound nearly as glitchy or electronic as Perdition City does.
I am really impressed with the album and would probably rank it in the top half of their discography. Tentative favourites are So Falls the World and the closer, Coming Home, but there's no bad moments at all as far as I'm concerned. "to forgive and forget...."
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Only heard it once but as far as I remember my favourite songs were the first 3 tracks: Nemoralia, Rolling Stone and So Falls the World.
However, it's solid all the way through. Never been very impressed by Ulver, so this is currently easily my favourite of the albums I've heard, Perdition City is probably #2. Gonna give this way more spins soon
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Never been very impressed by Ulver
:| :| :|
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^ adding to that; what albums have you heard?
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Bergtatt, Perdition City, The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Shadows of the Sun and ATGCPLRFJIFJSCAP
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Bergtatt, Perdition City, The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Shadows of the Sun and ATGCPLRFJIFJSCAP
That's not even half of their releases and you're missing out on three of my top 4.
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I cannot stop listening to TAOJC. What a record! :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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new album is surprisingly quite good.
some the vocals even sound a bit like George Michael.
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A dark 80's synthpop record with Youth on production. Always expect the unexpected with Ulver. Great record.
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New song, from a new EP they've just announced:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_tR3H1BHic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_tR3H1BHic)
Probably from the Assassination sessions, but amazing stuff, anyway. :heart
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Sounds fucking great :metal
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They've relesead the EP via Bandcamp:
(https://ulver.bandcamp.com/album/sic-transit-gloria-mundi-ep)
If you've liked Julius Caesar, go for it. The two new songs are from the same sessions, and the Frankie Goes to Hollywood cover fits right in.
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This is completely fascinating to me. I first heard of this band 20 years ago when they had a song on the Firestarter complilation album with a bunch of other black metal bands. The song was from the album Nattens Madrigal and was rumored to have been recorded in a forest. It sounded terrible. Then I really didn't think about this band until I see this thread. I just listened to one of their latest songs and am shocked out how completely different it is. Reminds me of when I was getting into Dream Theater and some fans would ask if I was into Opeth. Opeth was on that same black metal compilation. Weird to think Dream Theater fans would listen to that and then I come to find out Opeth had completely changed their style too.
May need to look more into Ulver.
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This is completely fascinating to me. I first heard of this band 20 years ago when they had a song on the Firestarter complilation album with a bunch of other black metal bands. The song was from the album Nattens Madrigal and was rumored to have been recorded in a forest. It sounded terrible. Then I really didn't think about this band until I see this thread. I just listened to one of their latest songs and am shocked out how completely different it is. Reminds me of when I was getting into Dream Theater and some fans would ask if I was into Opeth. Opeth was on that same black metal compilation. Weird to think Dream Theater fans would listen to that and then I come to find out Opeth had completely changed their style too.
May need to look more into Ulver.
You definitely should. Amazing band.
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If you like synthpop, go with their last album, The Assassination of Julius Caesar. Try Shadows of the Sun if you're into more laid-back, calmer music.
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If you like synthpop, go with their last album, The Assassination of Julius Caesar. Try Shadows of the Sun if you're into more laid-back, calmer music.
I like it all so I'll probably check out both. In fact I'll probably check out their first one too as I like really primitive black metal although the one song I heard didn't do much for me when I first heard it two decades ago.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Perdition City and Themes from William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell are the best two :tup
Oh, Messe is awesome as well, as are Blood Inside and Wars of the Roses
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Yeah Perdition City is easily their best album as far as I'm concerned. But they have a bunch of other great albums too!
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Shadows is my favorite, but Perdition City, Assassination and Zodiac are almost as good.
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I totally forgot that the vocalist of Ulver used to be in a band called Arcturus. I just recently went back and got all of the Arcturus albums. He was only on the first two or three Arcturus albums and now they have a guy called ICS vortex who was in Dimmu Borgir for a while.
Good stuff. Somewhat modern aventgarde. I definitely recommend checking it out
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Good band, yes. Completely different from Ulver though.
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Ulver is just great! One of my go-to bands for when I want something dark and weird, in any style. And what an achievement that they always retain that Ulverness, whether they're playing psychedelic pop, black metal or industrial electronic music.
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I just listened to Bergtatt for the first time after only hearing Assassination and Shadows of the Sun. I’m a big 90’s black metal fan and I’m surprised I missed this one as it’s really goddamn good. This band definitely understands how to utilize atmosphere to make their music capture a certain mood.
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As for the first records, i love Bergtatt and Kveldssanger. BTW, listening to Shadows of The Sun right now. :heart
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Finally picked up a bunch of Ulver. Won 7 albums on an ebay auction and then went and bought the so-called black metal trilogy. I really dig the first 3 but I have to say The Assassination of Julius Caesar blew me away. I have listened to that album over and over and over.
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Finally picked up a bunch of Ulver. Won 7 albums on an ebay auction and then went and bought the so-called black metal trilogy. I really dig the first 3 but I have to say The Assassination of Julius Caesar blew me away. I have listened to that album over and over and over.
Damn good record, still my favorite from last year :metal
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Ulver just put out a new single "Russian Doll" today. Very reminiscent of The Assassination of Julius Caesar... wonder if this is leading towards a follow-up record?
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Yup, it's from their upcoming album, which hasn't been announced yet for some reason.
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I think “Shadows of the Sun” is one of the best records of all time. “Childhood’s End” is a fascinating album too.
That said, I completely don’t “get” this current new wavy/synth pop/Bryan Ferry circa 1986 (*shudder*) trip they’re currently on. “Assassination of Julius Caesar” did nothing for me. Everyone seems to dig it and I want to like it, but it just doesn’t do anything for me. I actually like synth pop but the last record I couldn’t make sense of. This new single seems to be following the same thread unfortunately.
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It would be a first for Ulver to release an album that sounds so similar to one they already made. But at the same time Julius Ceasar seemed to get a lot more attention and praise than usual for them, so I’d understand them wanting to continue down that path. I guess we’ll find out soon how similar the new album really is.
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I love Russian Doll. I got zero problems if they want to continue on the Assasination vibe for tis new record. :tup
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New album: Flowers Of Evil
August 28th
1. One Last Dance
2. Russian Doll
3. Machine Guns and Peacock Feathers
4. Hour of the Wolf
5. Apocalypse 1993
6. Little Boy
7. Nostalgia
8. A Thousand Cuts
https://store.houseofmythology.com/cart/product.php?id=63740
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Wow...
I generally don’t speak negatively on a band’s (any band’s) latest release, especially since Ulver are definitely one of my favourite groups/bands ever, but this one was so boring in every single way. Huge disappointment.
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My first listen was a bit disappointing as well but I still like Russian Doll, and One Last Dance and A Thousand Cuts sounded pretty promising. Shame the album's so short, I think it definitely could have used a longer song like Coming Home somewhere in there to inject some variety.
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I'll give it a listen later today once I'm done with roulette stuff.
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I'm going to play it on a walk later today. Had no idea a new record came out and it's perfect timing for me to dig into their music.
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I'm going to play it on a walk later today. Had no idea a new record came out and it's perfect timing for me to dig into their music.
Make sure you listen to their last one! Same general style as the new one but done better.
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Yeah The Assassination of Julius Caesar is one of their best albums :metal
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I like the new album a lot, but yeah it's like a slightly less exciting version of the previous album. Still great though.
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The new record is fantastic. Played it several times yesterday and it's just full of cool jams. I dig it a lot.
So, I've decided to go through Ulver's discography - or, at least, what is available from it on Spotify. The first and third albums are unlistenable noise. Awful. No, thanks. Kveldssanger however is beautiful. Lovely stuff. The next studio record, Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, is not available. So, I'm currently listening to Perdition City instead. This sounds more like the Ulver I've heard in my roulettes but it still has its own unique flavor (The Future Sound of Music is a super cool piece of art).
What Spotify has next for me, in order: Ulver 1993-2003, which is a remix album. Not sure I'm interested in this. Svidd Neger, which is a soundtrack album. Not sure if that's worth checking out, or any of the soundtrack albums, haven't made up my mind if I'm going to listen to them right away, or at all. Teachings In Silence is the next one, which is apparently a compilation but looks like two EPs smashed together.
This band's discography is confusing me so I'm just calling it a day with Perdition City. :lol EDIT: okay maybe I should just listen to the film scores anyway since their sound is cinematic as heck already, who am I kidding
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I'd just follow Rateyourmusic, after Perdition city it goes: Blood Inside -> Shadows of the Sun -> War of the Roses -> Messe -> The Assassination of Julius Caesar -> Flowers of Evil. I skipped Childhood's End as it's a bunch of 60s psychedelia covers, and Terrestrials is a colab with Sunnn O))). And yeah, Teaching in Silence is a compilation of two very cool and experimental EPs. You've also got the Metamorphosis and A Quick Fix for Melancholy EPs if you want to delve deeper.
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after Perdition city it goes: Blood Inside -> Shadows of the Sun -> War of the Roses -> Messe -> The Assassination of Julius Caesar -> Flowers of Evil. I skipped Childhood's End as it's a bunch of 60s psychedelia covers, and Terrestrials is a colab with Sunnn O))).
Yup, this is the progression I'd follow as well (and might as well go back to The Marriage of Heaven and Hell at some point too). Any other albums, soundtracks or EPs are more bonus stuff you can check out after all the "main" albums if you feel up to it. Though one EP I definitely would recommend is the Sic Transit Gloria Mundi EP, which has a couple great B-sides from the Julius Ceasar album. :tup
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The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is my second favourite Ulver album. Perdition City is first place. Love that one.
Bergtatt is awesome and definitely not ‘unlistenable’. Nattens Madrigal is, but I find it quite cool, because it’s so over the top.
Blood Inside (weird prog-ish) and Wars of the Roses (strange artrock) are great too, as is Messe (modern classical-ish). And Shadows of the Sun (ambient / down-tempo).
I find Childhood’s End strange. All of the soundtracks are alright I guess, but out of context they’re a bit weird.
Definitely listen to The Norwegian National Opera as well, their live album.
ATGCLVLSSCAP is relaxing in a different way than Shadow of the Sun. Drone Activity is great background noise.
Have fun :)
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Taking ya'lls advice, I have resumed my journey with Blood Inside.
I forget who sent me a big batch of Ulver in my last roulette. Sacul or Elite, I think it was Sacul? "It Is Not Sound" was in the batch sent to me and so far it's definitely the standout track on this album. Although "Christmas" is fantastic. I think I'll spin this one all morning and maybe check out the next one this afternoon. I love how different this band sounds compared to almost anything else.
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Blood Inside is a weird, weird album. It took a while to grow on me but now it's easily in my top three albums by them. I like every song on it except for The Truth which is just kinda there.
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Blood Inside is a weird, weird album. It took a while to grow on me but now it's easily in my top three albums by them. I like every song on it except for The Truth which is just kinda there.
Oh man, that song just finished and I really like it! Has a nice chill groove.
I gotta say though, I'm most anticipating Shadows of the Sun. EOS might be my favorite Ulver song from all I've heard and if the rest of the record is like that, well, it'll easily be my favorite.
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Eos is easily the best song on Shadows Of The Sun but the rest is quite nice as well. It's not one of my personal favorites but I can understand why it is for a lot of people.
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EOS is a top 3 Ulver song. The rest of the album is awesome, I think you'll dig it.
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They're a band I still admire a lot even if I don't listen much to them anymore. Their discography has its ups and downs but for me the best stuff is the '00s trilogy of Perdition City (their best), Blood Inside and Shadows of the Sun. The 90's albums are pretty solid and the '10s output has been a bit mixed (some good highs some forgettable lows) and the highlight of the last few albums for me is still Messe I.X–VI.X.
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I think it was Sacul?
No, it was not.
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I think it was Sacul?
No, it was not.
:facepalm: Good thing I kept a spreadsheet tracking all this, maybe someday I'll look at it before posting! :lol
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They're a band I still admire a lot even if I don't listen much to them anymore. Their discography has its ups and downs but for me the best stuff is the '00s trilogy of Perdition City (their best), Blood Inside and Shadows of the Sun. The 90's albums are pretty solid and the '10s output has been a bit mixed (some good highs some forgettable lows) and the highlight of the last few albums for me is still Messe I.X–VI.X.
Messe was the first Ulver album I listened to, I should revisit as it's been a few years. Excellent record.
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Ulver is a band I had been meaning to check out for years simply because Kristoffer Rygg sang with Anneke on a song from The Gathering's album Souvenirs, and so I figured they must be good. I've now listened to each album a couple times and my clear favorites are Shadows of the Sun and Kveldssanger.
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I loved Arcturus and feel they were never the same without Garm but Ulver haven't clicked with me over several attempts over the years. Now may be the time, however.
Have spun Blood, Shadows, Assassination and Flowers over the last week. The first two I heard some years back. Deffo intrigued...
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So I haven't listened to Ulver in years and years and years, but I saw that they had a new album dropping, so I gave it a listen.
I thought the first half of the album was a little boring, TBH. But Apocalypse 1993 really did it for me.
Then I went back and listened to Perdition City, and all was right with the world.
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Been loving Flowers over the last week.
Spun Blood Simple again today too and was very impressed. Extraordinarily different, varied and intense.
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The new album's grown on me a bit. Some of the songs that initially seemed really sparse and boring actually have a lot of little details and layers in the production that you don't notice unless you're paying really close attention. Listening to it with headphones during a walk at night = highly recommended.
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It reminds me a little of The The around the Infected album.
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Been loving Flowers over the last week.
Spun Blood Simple again today too and was very impressed. Extraordinarily different, varied and intense.
You mean Blood Inside?
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Been loving Flowers over the last week.
Spun Blood Simple again today too and was very impressed. Extraordinarily different, varied and intense.
You mean Blood Inside?
Haha. Yeah, that. :)
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Well, Ulver's been quite a journey. I quite like The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Flowers of Evil, and Shadows of the Sun; plenty of songs from all three are on my regular listening playlist. The rest is a curious mix of interesting-but-not-captivating records or stuff I simply dislike like the first and third albums. But I was here mostly for the journey, and I found some stuff that stuck with me on the way. This band just has a really cool evolution and lots of different sounds and that was very interesting to experience from album to album. Can't say they're a favorite, but I have a totally new and deeper appreciation for them now.
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If one thing has come out of the 'Top 5 Songs of All Time' thread (and subsequent playlist, thanks Puppies) it's got me to delve deeper into bands that I've been sleeping on for a while. One of these is Ulver!
I'd already heard TAoJS a few times, when it came out, and I also checked out their latest, last year (didn't do a great deal, but I'll revisit). I also checked out Shadows of the Sun at some point over the last few years and ended up downloading it. It's the only album, until this week, that I'd liked enough to stick on my ipod.
So the Top 5 Songs thread chucked the song Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses, from Perdition City my way. Definitely something that resonated with me and inspired me to dig a little deeper. I've listened through Perdition City three times this week and then went ahead and downloaded Blood Inside as well (as I've heard good things).
Currently working my way through their discography, starting with the trio of Black Metal albums, and you know what, I'm pleasantly surprised! Currently listening to Bergtatt and it's not bad. I'm hardly a fan of old school black metal, and prefer when it is spliced with genres like Progressive Metal or Shoegaze, but this has some string sections and clean vocals. Not what I expected but I'd listen again.
Onwards to Kveldssanger next :metal
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Great, have fun :tup They're one of my favourite groups.
I listed The Future Sound of Music in my Top 5. I was checking the thread to see who got Porn Piece on there. Apparently a post someone made 10 years ago!
If you're going through the discography, you'll be surprised that 'trio of black metal albums' doesn't make sense, since Kveldssanger is completely acoustic (and their worst album, if you ask me). I'm curious what you're going to think of Nattens Madrigal :biggrin:
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Great, have fun :tup They're one of my favourite groups.
I listed The Future Sound of Music in my Top 5. I was checking the thread to see who got Porn Piece on there. Apparently a post someone made 10 years ago!
If you're going through the discography, you'll be surprised that 'trio of black metal albums' doesn't make sense, since Kveldssanger is completely acoustic (and their worst album, if you ask me). I'm curious what you're going to think of Nattens Madrigal :biggrin:
Yea, after listening to Kveldssanger I realised that 'trio of black metal' was a bit of a misnomer. I thought I'd read somewhere about the trio of black metal albums they released but maybe not.
Currently listening to Nattens Madrigal and this was the sort of black metal I was expecting to be honest. I can listen to this fine but I doubt I'll revisit. Out of the first three albums I think I easily liked Bergtatt the most.
I'll be skipping Perdition City next, as I've obviously heard it. Lyckantropen Themes is the soundtrack to a short film apparently.
In summary, first three albums went consistently downhill and I liked the first the most :corn
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You're also skipping Themes on William Blake's Marriage of Heaven and Hell, which was released in between Nattens Madrigal and Perdition City. My second favourite Ulver album.
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You're also skipping Themes on William Blake's Marriage of Heaven and Hell, which was released in between Nattens Madrigal and Perdition City. My second favourite Ulver album.
Yea I just went on the Ulver wiki and realised that album and Metamorphosis are not on Spotify. I guess I'll circle back and listen to them elsewhere, at a later date.
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Those are all on their Bandcamp, I think. Same with Messe I.X-VI.X, that's technically a full album and definitely worth listening to at least once.
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Messe is the third album to round up my top 3. Definitely do!
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My top 3 would be Julius Caesar, Perdition City, and Blood Inside. Julius Ceasar has a death grip on the #1 spot while those other two are pretty close.
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Mine would be Shadows of the Sun, Julius Caesar, and either Perdition City or Messe. I really need to revisit the latter, it's been a while.
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Messe was the first Ulver album I listened to, I should revisit as it's been a few years. Excellent record.
Mine would be Shadows of the Sun, Julius Caesar, and either Perdition City or Messe. I really need to revisit the latter, it's been a while.
okay backwards lucas!
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Yeah I still haven't revisited it :lol
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For me the band peaked with Shadows of the Sun. The perfect blend of avant-garde and listenability. Such a great atmosphere to that album. Seriously maybe a top 10 album for the post 2000 category.
Couldn’t get into Assassination, thought it was boring and frankly, super overrated. Flowers of Evil has some bangers. I’m starting to come around to their current phase but I still wish they’d bring back some of that darkness of Shadows.
Childhoods End is worth a listen too.
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New single dropped today as a follow-up to Ghost Entry from a few months ago. Guess we're getting yet another synthpop album sometime this year. :corn
Not sure how I feel about that honestly; Julius Caesar was amazing and Flowers Of Evil was pretty good too, but hopefully they break the pattern of diminishing returns if they're that committed to a single sound now.
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Yeah, it's kind of odd that they went from having a completely different sound every album to sort of sticking to one style now. I guess they really like it. I certainly enjoy it, but Shadows of the Sun would have been the album I wish they'd kept cloning.
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I certainly enjoy it, but Shadows of the Sun would have been the album I wish they'd kept cloning.
I don't think that would have been preferable for me. :lol Messe I.X-VI.X is kind of a follow-up to that sound, and that's one of my least favorites I've heard by them.
I definitely would have been happy with a slightly-less-great Blood Inside, though.
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Yeah, Messe I.X-VI.X was sort of the spiritual successor of it, and it was good, but just didn't have nearly the impact on me. I guess sometimes lightning can only strike once.
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just saw there's an Ulver thread here. love me some Ulver. TAOJC might be one of the best albums i've heard from the last decade
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I listened to their album Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell for the first time recently, and was blown away by the song Proverbs of Hell! One of their best songs ever.