ATGCLVLSSCAP by Ulver

It's hard to classify Norwegian 4-piece band Ulver in any traditional genre. They dabbled in black metal, and their debut Et eeventyr i 5 capitler has become an essential album in the history of the genre. The band has garnered critical acclaim from many a critic while blending genres such as experimental rock, electronica, and many more. The group has even went on to create a collaboration album with drone metal outfit Sunn O))). After a career spanning over two decades, and having already done so much experimentation, where would their latest release take them?

Had I not read up on the album before listening, I never would have guessed that all 12 album tracks were performed live, as free improvisation during the bands 2014 european tour. Not only does the album not sound as if it were recorded live, but it also sounds as it was so well wrote and assembled that I was really truly shocked to find it the origins of the recording.

 From the moment the album kicks off with the very drone inspired piece England's Hidden to some of the nosier more psychedelic cuts like Cromagnosis, the album carries a very similar sound. At times the progression is methodical and slow, at times there's barely any, and yet throughout the 80 minute runtime of the album, you become completely enthralled by the sound that Ulver have managed to create.

The album is principally instrumental, and in fact the only time you hear lead vocalist Kristoffer Rygg lend his voice are on the tracks Om Hanumate Namah, Nowhere (Sweet Sixteen) and Ecclesiastes. On the first of those three tracks, the contribution is very minor, as it's just a simple chanting, sparsely heard during the beginning of the track that ends up echoing for the full 7 minutes of the song, creating a very trance like feel. While the vocal work was a welcomed contribution, it also made for one of the less interesting tracks on the LP in my opinion. Nowhere is easily the most conventional track in the listing, and Rygg's vocals just fail to add much to a cut that would be much more enjoyable without them.

While I do enjoy some of the more drone-y moments of the album, it's really the more instrumentally driven and noisy tracks that keep me coming back to this album. Tracks like the aforementioned Cromagnosis as well as Desert/Dawn are very good examples of that, and because they are set in between some fantastic drone pieces, it really helps showcase the layers and depth on display in these tracks. Ulver makes a great effort on a regular basis to create beautiful lush soundscapes, which is the exact thing that has helped the group reach this level of success across the world.

The album can be summed up with the word experience, because that's exactly what it is. ATGCLVLSSCAP sucks you in, and doesn't let you leave it's confines until it's done with you. Ulver had nothing to prove with the release of this album as they've already done so much in their illustrious career, and yet still, they managed to show us all once again just how creative they are.

Favorite Tracks: Cromagnosis, Om Hanumate Namah, Desert/Dawn

Least Favorite Tracks: Nowhere (Sweet Sixteen)

Rating: 4/5