Review by Rexorcist for Blut aus Nord - Ultima Thulée (1995)

After having gone through a ton of black metal albums to re-evaluate the way I see it, I've been doing a lot of rearranging, specifically for traditional black metal and a little of the atmospheric stuff, namely Blut Aus Nord.  I found myself less satisfied with the Memoria Vetusta albums as they draw out despite their keen soundscapes.  I need something that keeps me on my toes.  When it comes to the more atmospheric stuff, that album is Ultima Thulee.

Ultima Thulee is aggressive and menacing, like the winter landscapes and blizzards themselves are out to kill you.  But even as you can envision youself hiding in a cave or a cottage, you feel comfortable, as the album is very contemplative in its strong atmos.  Whether it's shifting between soft and comfy or astral and cosmic dungeon synth, or shoving the blizzard down your throat and up your rear at the same time, the weather might always be snowing outside, but the weather's always changing.  Honestly, this album does a much better job of drawing me into the winterworld than even Paysage d'Hiver ever did.  Even though it's not the most diversified, it keeps throwing even old tricks at you in random but welcome places, and that's what makes it a good debut.