From Bandcamp, "With their fourth studio album "Hulders Ritual" (Ritual of the Huldra), SLAGMAUR break the chains of repetition and nostalgia by rewriting the rules of black metal. This does not mean abandoning the foundations of the genre. Although "Hulders Ritual" continues, refines, and widens the daring stylistic balance of SLAGMAUR's previous works, it adds an extra dimension of sardonic mania to its collection of sharp and vicious sonic instruments. "Hulders Ritual" is for those, who are seeking musical darkness, magic, and the relentless breaking of limitations from black metal. SLAGMAUR push forward among the select few that are leading the way to the future of the genre."

The album has six songs, and "Ritual Dogs" is first. Out of the gates comes a dark and aggressive sound, akin to seeing the Dark Lord himself emerging from the shadows. The vocals are horrid, and the music has that familiar "one-two" step of Black Metal, used primarily to impart a harrowing sound. "Wildkatze" begins with scratchy, trebly guitars and leads to a mid-tempo riff that repeats the patter in a hypnotic fashion. A heated intensity is maintained throughout the song as well. "Huldergeist" also beings with scratchy rhythm guitars that are thrust right into your face. Also sporting a slow to mid-tempo pace, hypnotic qualities remain strong. I feel like the band is subliminally trying to call the listener over to the dark side, and some trippy elements are added to disorient you.

"Hexen Herjer" features a nice surprise in the form of haunting piano notes. The riffs that follow are swelled with might and power, and the vocals are sung in a ritualistic fashion. I feel like I have wandered into a torture chamber. "Warlok" comes out of the gates swinging, and it's all about a slightly restrained aggression that swells like a damned river after a flood. It is also dark…as dark as the sky at the stroke of midnight. "Rathkings" is the final offering, and it's as if the band saved a deep pocket full of hatred and rage for the ending song. It wastes no time establishing a thick, overgrown sound, complete with powerful riffs and horrid vocals. This was a delightfully commanding album that just didn't settle for taking prisoners. Indeed, the sound was rich, full, frightening, and even combative at times.