Tulus is a well-known name, certainly thanks to those first two albums ‘Pure Black Energy’, and ‘Mysterion’, and the obvious connection to Khold. Since ‘Old Old Death’, (2020), the creative drive within the Norwegian band has ramped up, leading to a new release every three years. For 2026, this has resulted in their 8th album, ‘Morbid Desires’.
The Black ’n Roll that Tulus has been known for since their comeback continues, which shouldn’t be a surprise. The quirkiness the band is known for is also still there. Blodstrup’s vocals and the riffs are still the foundation of Tulus’ Black Metal, but add flamenco guitars, chants, and a tribute to Black Sabbath with cowbell and harmonica, and you get the kind of variety that some of you are looking for, those who aren’t satisfied with bands just copying ‘Transilvanian Hunger’.
Think of Motörhead, Satyricon and Mayhem around the year 2000, Khold of course, Tulus over the last 15 years, and a small hint of avant-garde, and you’re on the right track. Black Metal fans who want something a bit different and those who know Tulus’ recent albums will likely enjoy ‘Morbid Desires’, but those who didn’t like them before won’t be convinced by this new one either.
But calling Tulus unique is beyond dispute. (Ricardo)
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With Black Metal being such a rich and diverse sub-genre within Extreme Metal, it’s always intriguing to me when I hear of a band that has existed for some time that somehow has slipped through my fingers, only for me to discover them later in their career where they have established such a solid sound, and the sound that comes to mind with Tulus is “Black ‘n’ Roll”; a curious melding of Black Metal mixed with Rock ‘n’ Roll.
I must admit, my first exposure to said sub-sub-genre was with Satyricon circa ‘Volcano’, Dissection’s ‘Reinkaos’ (still a point of contention for me) and Darkthrone circa ‘F.O.A.D’; but it’s a tad jarring at times to know exactly where they’re going with the approach when it comes to this very niche style.
It would be the easiest thing in the world for me to simply say ‘It’s not for me,’ because the balance skews more towards Rock ‘n’ Roll with the mid-tempo stuff, whereas I like my Black Metal with speed, vitriol, dread and atmosphere amongst other factors, but I absolutely see the value in what Tulus bring to the table.
For those who love Black Metal, warts and all, there’s really nothing to truly scoff at when listening to the album as a whole; the riffs are tight, the vocals snarled and menacing, the rhythm section on point and powerful; even the guitar solos providing melody and a welcome contrast when they’re allowed to breathe, especially on a track like ‘Fossegrimens Vakt’.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll is front and centre in tracks like ‘Vanvidd’ and ‘Hedengangen’ (and most definitely the final track, ‘Sabbat’) and it’s not hard to imagine the band playing these tracks live and commanding a rowdy bunch of battle vest-wearing Black Metal punks having a great time, as it evokes that imagery of palatable Black ‘n’ Roll made for the stage.
While my first listen of this album intrigued me because it was slotted within a group of vastly different Black Metal releases, and the first listen was one where my Scrutiny Hat was not worn, however, on re-listens for review, I must confess that if this album was put up against an imagined sheet I use with boxes that are to be ticked for me to truly and fully appreciate and enjoy it in the vein I hold, there would be some ticks missing. Nothing wrong with that.
That, in and of itself is not to begrudge it anything; perhaps it’s just a case of what I wrote earlier ringing true after all, in that it’s ‘not for me’. (Rich Hughes)
