Don't think there's been any chat on this one yet.
It really did seem like for a while that either here, or on the aul MetalIreland, that there'd be a new Ulver thread every couple of months from someone who'd just discovered them.
I haven't seen any chat or hype about this new record anywhere, I've given it couple of spins over the holidays, and really just can't fathom why Rygg bothers anymore, or who this stuff is even for. I keep checking out the new releases and each time my enthusiasm diminishes a little more. I don't think there's been a decent full album since Shadows Of The Sun, I maybe enjoy a track or two on subsequent releases and I really feel like Childhood's End was the turning point. On paper some of the stuff has potential, like Scary Muzak, but the execution is weak and there's simply other people doing that kinda stuff better. Surely there's at least one decent full album left in the tank?
I get it, they're evolving, they're making challenging music, they're not a Metal band - but at this stage, it's just not very good music, it hasn't been for quite some time and I think the lack of any chat/hype around this new release is testament to that fact.
Would you believe I was only giving this another spin on the way home today and thinking about how nobody here said much about it. Then again it is totally removed from a metal album. Not that that stops us much here otherwise :laugh:
I am the opposite here, I love it, it is tough to explain exactly why but it hits all the right spots for me. It is like nothing but pulls from a huge range of familiar sounds and styles, and it gives it huge space as an album. It is engaging but doesn't ever give you entirely what you want or expect from it, they are doing whatever they like with it and I love that approach. It is lush and honest and freeform.
Only a couple of their stuff I don't have much time for. Flowers of Evil is completely dull, it is just TAOJC round 2 and by right should work because of that but no, it has nothing going for it.
Can't see myself going back to them now, they were too far gone for me a few albums back.
I stuck it on in the background while reading the other night. I don't think a single part caught my attention. I love the artwork though.
The artwork, yes, without the name and title in that 'look at us, we don't need a logo or a cool font', yes the artwork would look nice above the mantlepiece. That won't sell me a record though ,it leads me to suspect it will be bland elevator muzak. Which you pretty much confirmed.
Enjoying it myself, super chill. Saw them post about its release on FB, but apart from that nothing. Also, I never got around to checking out the previous two, which both slipped under the radar. Artwork reminds me of a Monkey Island landscape :laugh:
Well I'll definitely bow out on 'super chill' , as a non toker ;)
I did see some chatter about this online but the last album I thought was ok from them was Peredition City and that was a long time ago.
It's so chill that it literally put me to sleep. This particular album from Ulver ain't for me.
I don't have any real issue with the more experimental side of BM...can get completely on board with what the likes of Oranssi, DHG, Blut Aus Nord etc are doing but they still have some semblance of bm at heart. Ulver kinda lost me at Perdition City as well. And it hasn't aged well for that matter.
This passed me by! I really liked 'The Assassination...', but 'Flowers of Evil' left me cold. Like you said, I think they do have the capacity to write some great stuff but they can be very hit or miss in the last few years. I'll give this a go.
Quote from: John Kimble on January 07, 2026, 07:26:14 PMUlver kinda lost me at Perdition City as well. And it hasn't aged well for that matter.
That or Lyckantropen Themes (whichever came last) was the last thing of theirs that held my attention.