The band is now joined by bassist and vocalist Sam Osborne aka Necreon (Funebrarum), and session guest musicians: Keld, who plays hurdy-gurdy, keyboards and lead guitars (Crypt Sermon, Majesties and Obsequiae), Vrolok, on drums (Aeternus, Gorgoroth) and Vapula. The sonic textures are saturated with acoustic guitars,  the flute played by Ianuaria and keyboards, contrasting with the rawness of guitars and deep pounding drums.

The opening intro “Drie Raven” uses flutes over the marching pulse of drums, setting a perfect tone for the whole album. Hulder combines sheer rawness with thick, razor-sharp tremolo pickings in “The Crowning”; the atmospheric synth and energetic drums showcase the artistic passion of creating sublime moments and dark passages where the layered flute enhances the pure musical creation.

The album is grim in tone, with guitar arrangements that capture the cold, freezing atmosphere of the medieval ages. The musical palette in “Thy Binding Oath” creates melancholy and tempos that move with the dynamics. The icy, ghost-like howls paint a crimson aura of melancholy and, combined with dark elements, let you imagine a desolate forest.

The gloomy ambiance dominates the songs, with aggressive drums keeping pace with frosty tremolo pickings; there is also a subtle folk element embedded in the music that gives it an aura of winter in the album title track “Verbolgen”. The melodic aesthetics contrasted sharply with the tremolo pickings that seemed to flow over layers of raw black metal riffing.

The album contains plenty of folk elements, but there is something in the vocal hissing that echoes a malevolent feeling. The drums are mostly played at mid-tempo, allowing the music to breathe; Hulder crafts epic, majestic landscapes, and despite the harsh drumming, the songs remain immense and memorable.

“…And We Shall Sing” opens with thundering percussion; the minimal use of keyboards creates a dense atmosphere that perfectly emanates. The vocals are otherworldly and fit the music. It feels like Hulder has yielded quality on the third album. The barbed-wire guitar riffs are followed by thundering percussion; the drums maintain the pacing, shifting quickly from the slower tempos to straightforward blast beats.

“In Blood and in Earth” is one of the highlights of the album, filled with chilling guitar strings and a dark ambience that provides an aura of menace when the icy howls kick in later.

The album cover art features Morrigan’s beautiful painting, aka Nicola Tier (Aeternus and Hades Almighty), which is her first visual art in nearly three decades. “Verbolgen” sets beauty to fierce grimness, showcasing classic influences from pagan and Nordic black metal.

Chilling mystical moments are bestowed upon the listener, with the rush of synth textures evoking a bleak experience. The clean vocal passages are beautiful and you can hear the sound of true inspiration when they contrast with the raspy growls.

“Den Nacht Zijn Lied” weaves the frostbitten influences of the second wave of black metal. The track opens with a blazing tremolo note, while drums dominate a harsh aggression and flow well with the tremolo pickings. The synth passages bring the charm of medieval darkness, combining catchy rhythms, and perfectly executed solos.

Hulder infuses the composition with high-quality black metal tunes by joining elements of its own gimmicks that accentuate a denser atmosphere. “View From Nemeton” is furious and atmospheric at the same time; everything on this track brings you closer to the grim aura of this album, from the synth, frostbitten drums to the cold, in your face chainsaw-riffing.

The songs creep out with ghostly melodies and clean vocals sung hypnotically in Flemish; the music caresses your soul as you embrace the mystical magic and timeless wintry images that evoke early Norwegian black metal.

The final track, “The Glow of Dawn”, will surprise you with a hypnotic and melancholic pagan folk sound. Yet Hulder conveys an atmospheric style of Nordic black metal; the layering of the guitars and drums brings this album to a grand epic closure.

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