Tulus is a historic Norwegian black metal band from Oslo who released three albums in the 90s; in 2000 the band was put on hold after the members had founded Khold and Sarke, thus devoting themselves mainly to these side projects. In 2007 Blodstrup & Co. decided to resurrect Tulus with an album, Biography Obscene, in which they explore experimental sounds and use new instruments such as piano, trumpet, violin.
Olm og bitter (‘Surly and bitter’) comes in 2012 after another hiatus of five years, and marks the return to a more traditional black metal. The production is certainly very good, but the sound is very similar to that of Khold. I would say that the only difference is that the songs are much faster; one could also say that Tulus is a fast version of Khold.
What else to say? Not much to say. Olm og bitter is a very short album: ten songs for a total playtime of about 30 minutes, which means an average playtime of three minutes each song. But it is not a problem of playtime, the problem is that there is little room for variation and virtuosity. The songs, however, are with no frills and generally very fast with a very aggressive blast beat. The first two songs from this point of view are effective; the choice not to use any intro is appreciable: the album starts immediately without compromise with a fast song, “Fornemmelse”. The second song “Frossen Skog” is also very fast but has also some short arpeggios here and there. Even the subsequent “Bitt” has some interesting variations that however last too little. “Draughatt” is the song that best alternates mid-tempo and blast beats and it is very interesting. “Sorg” and the aforementioned “Bitt” represent perhaps in the best way the cold and icy sound that is typical of Norwegian black metal. The album also includes the decidedly uninteresting “Nidhevn”, a song with evil spoken word and keyboards chords. “Nidhevn” is the sixth song and it's like a break that divides the album in two: the best songs are in the first half. Besides, the album is not helped by Blodstrup’s vocals that is a little dull and unvaried. Scattered here and there, there are sometimes short vaguely thrash or death inserts, as in “Villsti” and in the final “Labyrint”. A final notation goes to the unusually ugly cover.
The lyrics are all in Norwegian and once again have been written by Hildr, the wife of singer Blodstrup.
In conclusion a good album, certainly not exciting, but it won Tulus a participation at Inferno Festival 2014.
Notes:
Olm og bitter was released on March 30, 2012 through Tabu Recordings.
Tracklist:
1. ”Fornemmelse” 02:30
2. ”Frossen Skog” 03:01
3. ”Bitt” 03:08
4. ”Draugtatt” 02:39
5. ”Sorg” 02:46
6. ”Nidhevn” 01:46
7. “Angst” 03:04
8. “Tunge Dråper fra et Mørkt Hjerte” 03:19
9. “Villsti” 03:44
10. “Labyrint” 04:01
Personnel:
Sarke - drums
Blodstrup - vocals, guitars
Crowbel - bass
Hildr - lyrics
Olm og bitter (‘Surly and bitter’) comes in 2012 after another hiatus of five years, and marks the return to a more traditional black metal. The production is certainly very good, but the sound is very similar to that of Khold. I would say that the only difference is that the songs are much faster; one could also say that Tulus is a fast version of Khold.
What else to say? Not much to say. Olm og bitter is a very short album: ten songs for a total playtime of about 30 minutes, which means an average playtime of three minutes each song. But it is not a problem of playtime, the problem is that there is little room for variation and virtuosity. The songs, however, are with no frills and generally very fast with a very aggressive blast beat. The first two songs from this point of view are effective; the choice not to use any intro is appreciable: the album starts immediately without compromise with a fast song, “Fornemmelse”. The second song “Frossen Skog” is also very fast but has also some short arpeggios here and there. Even the subsequent “Bitt” has some interesting variations that however last too little. “Draughatt” is the song that best alternates mid-tempo and blast beats and it is very interesting. “Sorg” and the aforementioned “Bitt” represent perhaps in the best way the cold and icy sound that is typical of Norwegian black metal. The album also includes the decidedly uninteresting “Nidhevn”, a song with evil spoken word and keyboards chords. “Nidhevn” is the sixth song and it's like a break that divides the album in two: the best songs are in the first half. Besides, the album is not helped by Blodstrup’s vocals that is a little dull and unvaried. Scattered here and there, there are sometimes short vaguely thrash or death inserts, as in “Villsti” and in the final “Labyrint”. A final notation goes to the unusually ugly cover.
The lyrics are all in Norwegian and once again have been written by Hildr, the wife of singer Blodstrup.
In conclusion a good album, certainly not exciting, but it won Tulus a participation at Inferno Festival 2014.
Notes:
Olm og bitter was released on March 30, 2012 through Tabu Recordings.
Tracklist:
1. ”Fornemmelse” 02:30
2. ”Frossen Skog” 03:01
3. ”Bitt” 03:08
4. ”Draugtatt” 02:39
5. ”Sorg” 02:46
6. ”Nidhevn” 01:46
7. “Angst” 03:04
8. “Tunge Dråper fra et Mørkt Hjerte” 03:19
9. “Villsti” 03:44
10. “Labyrint” 04:01
Personnel:
Sarke - drums
Blodstrup - vocals, guitars
Crowbel - bass
Hildr - lyrics
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com