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Ulver (Norwegian for �wolves�) is a multi-disciplinary musical group from Norway. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release in 1993, Ulver�s style has ever been changing by mixing elements of experimental, electronic and ambient music, avant-garde rock and trip hop.
Musical overviewBlack Metal TrilogieAlthough Ulver�s first three albums are often called their �Black Metal Trilogie�, they are quite diverse in musical styles, with only two of them belonging to the black metal genre
. The archaic Danish lyrics of the first album and Norwegian lyrics of the next two albums were inspired by Scandinavian folktales.
Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler is considered to be a folk-themed black metal album for its occasionally fast tempo, distorted electric guitars and croaky screaming vocals intermitted with melodious acoustic passages with clean vocals, and having a fantasy storyline. The title Bergtatt literally translates as �mountain-taken�; in Norwegian folk tales the word refers to people who wander off into mountains, lured by trolls or other legendary beings. The narrative of the album�s lyrics follows a maiden as she becomes so mountain-taken. The subtitle translates as �A Tale in 5 Chapters�. Bergtatt features a melancholic, fully acoustical song �Een stemme locker� (�A Voice Beckons�).
Kveldssanger, Ulver�s second album, contrasts with Bergtatt as it uses classical guitars, cello and chamber chants, completely eschewing the metal elements of Bergtatt, while still having a folk theme. Garm has since remarked that Kveldssanger was an �immature attempt at making a classical album.� Garm later clarified this by saying that the performance was immature, yet the content is strong when their youth is taken into account.[ title = ULVER: The MetalKult Interview ]
The third album, Nattens Madrigal (�Madrigal of the Night�), saw the band returning to a black metal style similar to Bergtatt. Unlike on Bergtatt, however, the only acoustic instruments appear in a brief interlude in the first track. The album is intentionally underproduced, akin to Darkthrone�s Transilvanian Hunger, with buzzing guitars and rather muffled drums. There are rumors surrounding this album and its recording, the most famous being that the band recorded this album in a forest. Another and less-known rumor is that the band purposely recorded the album on a four-track cassette recorder and used the money that Century Media gave them for other things, like Armani suits, haircuts, cocaine, beer, and/or a new car. Garm has since confirmed that the band has expensive tastes.
Blake album''Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, released in 1998, was different from what Ulver, or even any other band, had made before.
The metamorphosisUlver�s next two releases, the EP Metamorphosis and full-length album Perdition City, were even more experimental and pensive than 'Themes�. A disclaimer on Metamorphosis reads: �We are as unknown to you as we always were.� The band had moved further away from rock and metal and into a more ethereal style, much like that of Coil. The use of programmed sound and atmospheric style is dominant here, unlike the previous albums. Neo-classical composer and film scorer Craig Armstrong may have been an influence on Ulver as his use of electronics and hip hop beats over strings and pianos is somewhat reminiscent of Ulver�s later works.
Perdition City combined many of their influences into a comprehensive painting of a desolate city filled with ghosts.
Teachings in Silence and soundtracksThe band followed up these two releases with two minimalist/ambient/glitch works Silence Teaches You How to Sing and Silencing the Singing. These works featured minimal melodies and often had subtle, weird and unnatural noises within the song structures. Due to their individual rarity, they were later amalgamated as Teachings in Silence.
Having proved their proficiency at making atmospheric music, Ulver were hired to make music for cinema films like Lyckantropen (see Lyckantropen Themes), Svidd neger (see Svidd neger (soundtrack)), and Uno.
Recent yearsIn 2003, Ulver began making more symphonic music. They released the EP A Quick Fix of Melancholy, which kept the minimalist, sparse styles of their previous albums, albeit adding more dramatic and symphonic elements, with various string sounds and operatic singing styles.
In July 2004, the band finished recording their sixth album, Blood Inside, which was released on June 6th, 2005. With Blood Inside the band stepped away from the more minimal styles they had been experimenting with previously. Bringing back more traditional rock instruments like guitar and acoustic drums (since 1998 the band had used primarily digital drums and sampled beats) and combining them with real and synthetic classical instruments, brass horns, and records.com/" class="PageLink" target="_blank">The End Records, Ulver�s North American label."authorised Ulver website", not updated since 2004."Interview with J�rn H. Sv�ren", from SonicFrontiers.net (Nov 2007)Ulver international tribute website "My Own Wolf: A New Approach" (released Dec 2007)Ulver
Category:Norwegian musical groups
Category:Norwegian heavy metal musical groups
Category:Norwegian black metal musical groups
Category:Avant-garde metal
Category:Musical groups established in 1993
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