Wuldorgast is a black metal band from the United States; “Cold Light” is their full-length debut album. I don't have much information aside from the band being a duo and the information included in their press release which states they “Belong to the order of the Broken Sword circle.”
I have absolutely no idea what that means but there is one thing the release mentions that I can grasp: “Cold Light” is real black metal for real black metal people! Indeed, this is a raw, abrasive release that offers little frills beyond the almighty power of the riff. That is more than enough for me.
The overall atmosphere is chaos incarnate, a sort of violence that is both maddening and precise in its depravity. It’s stripped down to an essence of purity and guile, a feat that is appreciated and infectious.
It’s just atmospheric enough without being something I would call atmospheric—this isn’t symphonic, ambient, or progressive in any way. But the duo apparently knows their craft well and uses nothing but their exemplary songwriting skills to create all the atmosphere they need without the use of bells and whistles.
Besides, this album wouldn’t work with those elements. “Cold Light” is infinitely more primeval and isn’t going to play nice with anything that doesn’t want to bludgeon your face with another, more angry face.
The album begins with the cold wind blowing in “Obscured In Shadows.” By the 34 second mark, the riffs hammer down among crashing drums and the right amount of groove. The ghastly blackened screams echo through the note’s night. The lead guitar is fantastic, adding another layer to the void.
“Cold Light of Reason,” is a rabid animal; the drums alone could bring down a nation. As the drums rip through, the guitars make their way to the forefront with a tight gallop that would make even the wild hunt proud. The traditional blackened speed comes into play after the halfway mark, the transition between the two guitar styles is natural.
My favorite song on the album is easily “Cipher To Eternity.” Its sense of melody is impeccable and it just hits me in a certain way that I can’t explain. The melodic bass is wonderful and all the instruments pull together to push the melodic rhythm to a new intensity after the opening moments. The ending riffs are tight as hell and amongst the best on the album.
All in all Wuldorgast’s “Cold Light” is a solid, riff-based black metal album that finds a good balance between atmospheric, melodic, and raw elements.
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