Hulder: Embraced by Darkness Mysts (2019)

Hulder is one-woman black metal band that is the project of former Bleeder vocalist/guitarist The Inquisitor.  The Inquisitor, despite being based out of the metal hotbed of Portland, Oregon, is originally from Belgium and calls on Belgian folklore as an influence for the lyrical subject matter.

This is a very short, two-song EP, Hulder's second release in 2019.  I was a little surprised given the album cover that this release does not have much, if any, folk influences.  There are some short moments, such as acoustic introductions and chiming bells that have some very minor influence, but by and large, this is a straightforward black metal release that seems to draw on influences from second wave Norwegian black metal bands like Mayhem, along with some LLN influence as well.  The riffs here are cold and raw, and are the primary highlight here.

I picked this up as a short introduction to a band I was not familiar with and came out impressed.  I will be checking out more from Hulder.

Primitive Warfare: Primitive Warfare (2019)

I kept hearing great things about this demo.  So much, that I finally decided to check it out.  The fact that it kept getting compared to "war metal" bands like Impiety, Bestial Warlust, Tetragrammacide and others sealed the deal.  Also, I kind of love the band's logo. 

This is a very quick, three-song demo, but it will leave listeners exhausted.  It is a high-speed, balls-to-the-wall intense, hyperactive few songs.  And it really does sound what warfare must sound like, with the cannon-fire drums, neck-breaking riffs, and the gruff dual vocal styles, it is absolute chaos.  It is a punishing and brutal demo that hits hard, continues hitting hard and never lets up on the throttle throughout. 

The only issue with the release is that the songs kind of blend together.  I had a little difficulty telling when one song would end and the other start.  The last track is a little easier with the ambient noise lead-in.  But the songs do sound kind of the same.  But that is bound to happen with a band who just beats the listener into submission.  Maybe it's a good thing there are only three songs here?

Longtime readers know how much of a fan I am of the "war metal" bands.  Primitive Warfare fits in with those bands very well.  I am excited to have found another group.  I am eagerly awaiting a full-length.