7th March 2025

Review: “The Barbed Thread of Madness” by Uthullun

Five years after his critically acclaimed magnum opus “Dirges for the Void” American dissonant Black Metal beast Uthullun returned from the void with EP “The Barbed Thread of Madness“. A couple of months after that grand unveiling, Wolves of Hades Records saw fit to select it for a limited edition single-sided 12” vinyl and cassette, providing collectors and devotees an opportunity to experience the haunting release in its purest analog form. Mastered by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Jungle Rot, Road Mutant) the affair consists of two harrowing tomes of sorrow and madness that promise to captivate and unsettle, the label warning us to prepare to be consumed by the darkness.

At sixteen and a half minutes this latest work from the sunless realm of Uthullun may on the surface feel like something of a stop gap release but by the time the title track “The Barbed Thread of Madness” has taken to flight it become apparent that this is so much more. As ever, the devil is in the detail and the sinister undercurrent of this one sends a chill down the spine. Usually in the dissonant Black Metal genre one might expect something so raw it sounds like was recorded on a potato in a cave but curiously here that is not the case. Yes, the vocals are savagely raw, sounding like they were uttered by Darth Sidious on his way to the black depths of an obsidian grave but sonically there is polish to the these cryptic passages. That translates to getting the best of both worlds, with the drum sound crisper and cleaner than most and the guitars shinning through the black clouds like chinks of light. A journey through the valley of death through anguish and psychoactive catharsis, its one feels like an LSD induced fever dream turned nightmarish vision that will end in a pool of blood. Not to be outdone the near ten minute “Blessed Be Oblivion” muses on similar themes as Uthullun stares into the abyss and contemplates his fate. Mid tempo meanderings with haunting touches creates a bleak atmospheric that swirls in soul stirring fashion, the harrowing tale as captivating as it is dark and sinister. What makes it interesting is that it isn’t ice cold and frostbitten, instead having some warmth in its Scandinavian rooted melancholia. All in all, a worthy addition to the collection any self respecting lover of this sub-genre of Black Metal but only in analog format [7.5/10]

Track Listing