All of you , without a doubt, know about the bands TULUS and  KHOLD – these are names that need no introduction in our somber chambers at this point, but did you know that there is a hidden member of the bands in question? One you never saw on stage? HILDR is that hidden treasure you already  adore if you are a fan of the mentioned bands, but most likely never thought about in depth – she is  the lyric mastermind behind the scenes, whose lyrics serve as the main expression of the bands since their inception. Dating since the early 90’s , her writing is an essential part from the existence of TULUS and later – KHOLD , shedding light on her natural talent of putting ideas and feelings into captivating words.

 [Photograph: Trym Stokland]

On April 30th, Hilde ‘Hildr’ Nymoen will release two books : “Vintervolve” (the Tulus book) and “Syner” (the Khold book). Both of them  contain all the lyrics she wrote for Tulus and Khold (more than 30 years of writing). “Vintervolve” and “Syner”  are both consisting of more than 150 original lyrics and more than 100 English translations, some interesting facts about  the stories behind the lyrics and pencil-drawn surprises from Blodstrup/Gard in each book .

Reading the poems (this is pure poetry in there), I got more and more fascinated by the Norwegian language, folklore and heritage, and since the translations are so fluent and natural, so beautifully crafted,  I could now understand better a lot of the lyrics that actually couldn’t quite  reach my mind before, even if  I adored the songs and could vaguely translate some of the meaning.  The raw flow in Norwegian poetry is indeed beautiful, and Hildr is amazing  at creating compelling visions through her words in her native language, and in English.

Through these books, I could delve deeper into the soul of these two legendary names in the scene – KHOLD & TULUS – and spend some quality time reading and delving into the dark and sophisticated poetry of Hildr, unveiling more and more of this world of witchcraft, darkness and trials that is often depicted in their artistry. I am really glad that the lyricist decided to publish these books, since the poems in them, without a doubt, deserve their own life outside of music.

What I found even more enthralling were the interesting mentions and explanations in the books. Did you know about Sverre Sigurdsson – one of the most important rulers in Norwegian history, and his battles? Or about the Black Death and its devastating effect in Norway? I do know now, after reading the notes about some of the lyrics in the books. These little interesting facts, mentioned here and there, sparked my interest in the topics so much that I immediately found a couple of historical books afterward in order to enrich what I’ve just learned. I always find it fascinating to learn more about different cultures and their history. And this time, I could do that without actually traveling, thanks to Hilde Nymoen.

Except for the lyrics, the nice translations and the explanations added to some of them, which were so interesting to read, the drawings of Gard/Blodstrup (vocalist and guitarist of KHOLD & TULUS) are another topic worth talking about. In each book, there are several drawings by the musician, connected to the poem on the page. I feel that Hildr & Gard are really in tune artistically and succeed in complementing each other’s flair in a very profound way, in depth and with a clear vision. My personal favorite drawings are the ones for the translations of “Gravstenskugge” and “Dommens fugl” – both from TULUS’ 1998 album “Mysterion” (by chance, this is also my favorite album).

Both of the books consist of a collection of beautiful and deep lyrics from the songs of KHOLD and TULUS, presenting translations and interesting explanations. To own either of these two books is to hold a little piece of black metal history in your hands, and more – to enter the mind of an artist who has spent her lifetime delving into the darkest corners of Norwegian mysterious folklore, death and evil. Poetry for those who find solace in the quiet hours, curled up with a book deep into the night, or listening to the soft rhythm of moving branches in the woods. If your soul resonates with meaningful verses, if black metal stirs something profound within you, and if you feel drawn to the dark, evocative artistry of the bands mentioned, then these books are meant to be held by you.

Write  to Harg Forlag Publishing at [email protected] to grab your copy.
The books are hardcover, and the price is 399 NOK / 36€ (+shipping), for the set of two books it is 740NOK / 67€ (+shipping).  If you need more details, do not hesitate to contact Harg Forlag Publishing.

Disclaimer: None of the contents of this review were generated via artificial intelligence – I use my own hands, mind and soul in order to write my honest opinion and create the materials I publish. I am clarifying this because it is full of generated  reports, reviews, social media posts  and articles in the world at this point –  it is important to remember how the real thing feels.