Review by Felix on March 12, 2025.

Úlfarr, maybe the most prominent representatives of the honestly speaking not overly prominent Cumbrian black metal scene, are no friends of regular albums or double full-lengths. Instead, they put a hybrid of album and EP on the table. That's fine, 48 minutes in total are a good duration and the EP is not just a nice addition. Okay, it's acoustic intro is completely useless – why does an EP with three songs need an intro? But the following two songs are a total disaster of the best kind. The "Transilvanian Hunger" aesthetics reappear. Massive vehemence, rigorous high speed and a voice which sounds as ugly, raw and non-conform as possible. It's almost a shame that these two musical atom bombs spread their terror only for five minutes in total. Nevertheless, two things are obvious. The EP follows a remarkably different approach than the first eight songs and their integration enriches the entire output.

Fornetes Folm, the regular full-length, sets the focus on more sophisticated song patterns. Unfortunately, the single parts of the tracks do not go hand in hand every now and then. Speedy sections develop a powerful dynamic, but spoken words parts, only accompanied by a few sluggish guitar tones, appear like an alien. Due to the fact that they show up and the beginning ("Alarūna") or the end ("Hildeleoma", "Moonskin", "The Cold Council Of Old Shadow") of the songs, they do not cause too much damage, but the intention behind them remains unclear. On the other hand, the songs are not too complex and whenever the band rushes through the wasteland of terror one can enjoy the dynamic and a solid-to-good (or even very good) quality of the guitar lines. This and the fact that Úlfarr do follow their own formula without copying other band's style makes Fornetes Folm to an album which is definitely worth listening. Of course, the horde does not reinvent the wheel, the way to ignite a fire has also already been discovered and the recipe for a good burger has already been written as well. But there is no role model that the band is obviously leaning on. That's cool.

Sometimes the utterly throaty vocals appear almost as a parody, sometimes the guitar lines storm forward without a clearly defined aim, but usually the band is able to bring its musical visions into a useful form. Stylistically, it follows on from the last work Orlegsceaft and the production also does not differ a lot. The guitars and the voice dominate, the drums are not pappy or feeble per se, but only the snare finds its way to be heard. The bass guitar is – I would almost like to say naturally – is about as present as a bottle of schnapps and two cigarettes at the breakfast of a well-educated upper-class kid. Nobody's perfect, but the strict, dense and merciless guitars make up for this – in terms of both the mix and the leads. Perhaps it is true that a higher degree of individual features would have been a good idea. On the other hand, the album works as a whole and this is doubtlessly a positive fact. Thus, the band has taken another little step into the right direction. The hybrid release consolidates Úlfarr's dictatorial, apodictic way of proceeding. Moreover, the material's quality is slightly better than it was the last time, at least in my humble opinion. Cumbria has very inspiring nature, north-west England is certainly worth a trip. But as long as you or me do not have the money and / or the time for this, we can find solace in the little piece of Cumbria that this full-length / EP offers us.

Rating: 8 out of 10