After the explosion of the Second Wave of Black Metal, when many Metal scenes showed their names, the interest in the Norwegian scene decreased (maybe due the lack of polemics), as Greek, Finnish, Swedish, English and North American Black Metal bands took over. But obviously some good names still appear in Norway, as HOGSTUL, as can be heard on "Ominous Fragmenta Tuptdalr", their first album.

In reality, it's a one man band, where Kjetil Ytterhus express his music ideas in a Symphonic Black Metal format. And it's not in the way of names as DIMMU BORGIR, for its most classical and harsh approach that shows some similarities with CARACH ANGREN and even with GLOOMY GRIM (due the vocals tunes). But it's truly creative, walking in between the brutality of the genre with chaotic and funereal symphonic parts created by keyboards. And it's really very good.

The production was done in a way to blend the old ways of the past (when Symphonic Black Metal had an ambience similar to those found on old classic films of horror) with the definition and power from modern recording techs.  It works in a very good way, indeed. The album show three extreme long songs (and maybe shorter ones would fit better on what the band wants to express), "The Beast", "Tomb" and "A Nightmare at 40 Fathoms" are filled with excellent musical ideas, contrasts between the crude and nasty grip of Black Metal with symphonic elements, and a clear Old School appeal in some moments.

To end the review, all that's left to be said is that HOGSTUL is coming to put its name along the greater names of the Symphonic Black Metal scene. "Ominous Fragmenta Tuptdalr" testifies the band's value and talent.