Tulus
“Fandens Kall” (Soulseller Records, 2023)

The Norwegian black metal scene is, even for those who don't have in Black Metal their best-known sub-genre of choice, the best known. Unfortunately, the reasons are not the best but, ignoring "small details", I venture say that the legacy of the genre still causes damage. After the well-known events, the growth of popularity of the genre reached levels hitherto never seen. Yes, Black Metal did not pop-up in Norway, and it was not entirely unknown before Varg stabbed the other "elitist kid" and played with matches, but it is undeniable that it was in Viking land that it developed into much of what it is today.

Among a long series of bands came Tulus, one of the 895369 Norwegian bands that found themselves sent - perhaps by chance - to a supposed second line of Norwegian Black Metal. "Pure Black Energy", from 1996, is one of those works immensely ignored by the most generalist public (yes, generalist and mainstream audiences in Black Metal, is a reality). A gunshot round of riffs and the aggressiveness so characteristic of this phase of the Black Metal formation, is what we get from Blodstrup, Gottskalk and Sarke. But the band, already in 1996 risked and "sweetened" their sound with distinct nuances. Fast forward to 2000, and we have Khold. I've always had Khold as something more machine, colder. Immense similarities with Satyricon in the less Black Metal phase, yes, clearly. Again, fast forward for 2006 and we have Khold on hiatus, and Tulus back...

It's 2023, the band has already released 3 albums since leaving the hiatus, this being the 4th. Sarke, Blodstrup and Crowbel, gather for their third work together, and we notice that the ties with modernity have been cut. Organic and icy atmospheres, this album brings us Tulus in the fullness of its slow and dense sound. Overall, this work rings out quite traditional for a 1990s band that continues, in 2023, to make Black Metal. Perhaps "Sjelesmerte" is the least conventional music, either by the more Rock n' Roll structure, or for the use of female voices; anyway, it does not stain the work presented. The following theme - "Bloddrapesvermer" - is rich in quality. The piano, the acoustic guitar, all this is a show of mastery from these gentlemen. Something immensely interesting is to see that the band, so many years after the most "aggressive" phase of the genre, continue to have this strength and vitality, still risking discreet "adventures". "Snomyrkre", the following track, shows a band very glued to Rock n' Roll, printing a lot of groove to the music. We finished the album with another trip to distant lands, or not so much, of Black Metal. The melancholy takes us away in a chilling way. I was genuinely surprised by the dynamics and - black - energy that the band can put, today, into their music. Interesting to see where they'll take us next.