Review: “Inferno XXXIII” by Ulvedharr

Adorned by artwork from Paolo Girardi (Power Trip, Firespawn, Revocation) the fifth studio album for the relentless Italian Death Thrash War Mongers Ulvedharr finds them entering a new realm of chaos. Mixed and mastered by Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studio (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Decrepit Birth, Hideous Divinity) it finds vocalist Ark Nattlig Ulv no longer playing rhythm guitars with that side of his role take up by Alessandro Lera, known for his work in both Dark Redeemer and Terbiocide. However Magnus Frost is credited in his place on the record. That server as the only change meaning the backbone of the band that created their last two records in 2017’s “Total War” an 2019’s “World Of Chaos” remains intact with Giuseppe “Jack Draven” Ciurlia (ex-After Demise, ex-Aleph) on guitars, Markus Ener (Integral, ex-Fake Mors) on bass and Michele “Mike Bald” Balduzzi (ex-Fake Mors, ex-Fosch) on drums…

Unlike previous Ulvedharr albums which have run on lyrical themes of Norse mythology and Vikings, this time out they have prepared for us what they’re calling a “lyrical compendium of violence, madness, despair, inner fears and thirst for revenge: a dystopic portrait of the present times and a very bleak vision of mankind’s future”. The journey to the underworld begins with “A Full Reload Of Fear“, as pummelling percussion creates the backdrop to which the guitars wreak havoc. Ulv sounds at his bellowing best while the sumptuous lead work that creeps in at the tail end hints at some Melodic Death Metal influence. Diving headlong into the darker side of 80’s Thrash nostalgia “Wasteland” sounds like an Exodus demo from 1984, hitting all the right notes before offering up a face melting solo in the final third that will have lesser mortals running for cover while Max Cavalera bangs his head and cracks a smile. So much is over produced and mixed to death these days, this on the other hand is classic and yet understated with a rough around the edges quality that works really well. An absolute pile driver of a cut “Revenge Loop” gallops through the fields like a prized Stallion, it’s neck snapping incendiary energy second to none, so while there is an air of genre familiarity about the record that only servers to fuel the fire and make this fearfully addictive. Arguably the stand out of the first half of the album “Dagon” keeps the energy levels high with hints at Groove Death and a bass line that pops out of the mix, bleeding between the pulsating rhythms of the six string slingers. That evolves into a bastard hybrid sound with “Master Liar” which approaches what Butcher Babies did rhythmically on “Goliath” with chunky chugged rhythms and plenty of bounce.

The second half of the album begins with “The Edge” which is one of those lightening quick rampages through Death Thrash that leaves you wondering how the band are going to be able to carry it off live. Somehow they maintain the tempo of the damned throughout without a lull for melody which means the album doesn’t have a soft centre and remains all killer no filler. Powerful and punchy “Eternal Attack” crushes like a Warlord’s battle axe, the leads and eventual solo the sparks which fly from it as it scrape on stone as a violent warning to anyone who should cross the path of Ulvedharr. The Chef’s Kiss is the downtempo section that brings this one to close, creeping up unexpectedly and – whisper it – approaching something that could be considered a breakdown. Blistered and bleeding fingers smash the strings once more as “Their Game” takes shape, the sheer head bang ability of this one impressing. Furious bursts of blast beats from Balduzzi raise the temperature to volcanic levels while Ulv sounds like he’s about to cough blood before the sinister and menacing riffs of “A New God” take hold. There are blackened leanings underneath the weight of the bands sonic oblivion, the break neck pace not broken for a flamboyant extended solo that is arguably the finest on the album but curiously that is where it comes to something of an abrupt conclusion. As a title while “Oblivion” sounds ominous enough instead it finds the band laying down a classically styled string instrumental with melodic acoustic guitars building into a smouldering solo, a piece that wouldn’t have fitted anywhere else on the record [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. A Full Reload Of Fear
2. Wasteland
3. Revenge Loop
4. Dagon
5. Master Liar
6. The Edge
7. Eternal Attack
8. Their Game
9. A New God
10. Oblivion

“Inferno XXXIII” by Ulvedharr is out on 21st April 2023 via Scarlet Records with pre-orders including a beautiful marbled red vinyl available here.