Conducted by Robert Mallett
The Cumbrian Fells, in the far north of England, are among the bleakest yet most breathtakingly beautiful upland areas in the United Kingdom. Here, the memories have a long, shadowy past. It is a cold, severe landscape that holds the secrets of pre-Christian ancient power, a power far older than anything recorded in the history of this wild, desolate region.
But the Fells are more than just ancient scenery with a dark and very violent past. For in the Cumbrian Black Metal Cosmos, the Fells are a living force woven into the identity and sound of the many outstanding bands forged into Cumbria’s Raw and Anti–Modern Black Metal tradition.
This tradition represents not only the true essence of Cumbria, but also the critical core, the black soul of Black Metal in the United Kingdom. Because this Cumbrian Black Metal Cosmology is composed of bands united by shared members, a shared geography, a shared hostility, occultism and a fierce anti-modern Cumbrian land spirit. And for some 16 years and more they have woven a sonic and lyrical fabric with its own distinct, fiercely proud and independent yet united meaning and purpose, which breaks down thus:
Úlfarr, the feral core
Torver, the ritual axis
Whinlatter, the fog
Helvellyn, the mountain
Thy Dying Light, the ancestral hostility
Nefarious Dusk, the border ghosts
Morte Lune, the nocturnal vein.
In such an environment Úlfarr was not formed. Úlfarr was summoned into a land in which it has become the hostile pulse, the harsh black riffs and vocals evoking a still remembered brutality rather than any sense of peace. Úlfarr represents the wolf‑spirit of Cumbria. But not as some mere symbol. Much more as a presence. The sound of the Fells themselves.
We recently caught up with Dominus, founder of Úlfarr and currently responsible for vocals and all instruments other than drums delivered by Nosdrahcir, to find out more about the inspiration that drives this most elite of bands ever onward.
What are the origins of Úlfarr and what inspired you to form the band?
Úlfarr was formed by me back in 2010, I believe, and released its first self-titled demo in 2011. Back then, it started as a DSBM project that I put together after discovering the Old Norse name Úlfarr, which is linked to the Cumbrian town where I formed the band. Around the same time, I found a human skull in a basement, which worked perfectly for promo photos, and that was pretty much the beginning of the band.
You have successfully moved to a raw, aggressive sound compared to your early material. Was that a natural progression for you or was there a catalyst for this?
This was a pretty natural movement for me, as it was simply the direction I wanted to take the band.
You are rightly proud of your Cumbrian heritage. How deep is this connection for you all and has it always been at the heart of your Black Metal?
Yes, Cumbria has always been a massive part of it. When we began, we coined the term ‘Cumbrian Black Metal’ – influenced by the classic ‘True Norwegian Black Metal’ movement – partly to give what we do a distinct identity and group it together. Back then, we wanted our own banner, separate from the broader British Black Metal scene.
Who are your biggest influences in terms of Black Metal and which artists do you feel lead the genre with innovation and impact?
When I was starting out, my biggest influences were bands like Darkthrone, Mayhem, Satanic Warmaster, and Judas Iscariot. Over time, bands like Sargeist, Craft, Forgotten Tomb, Urgehal, and Beastcraft have also influenced what I do. I’m very traditional with what I play.
What lies at the core of your spiritual beliefs as people? Witchcraft? Satanism? Folklore?
With Úlfarr, Satanism probably fits best into what we’re doing at present.
You’ve had a string of strong releases up to the excellent Fornetes Folm in 2024? When will we see new recordings from Úlfarr?
We’ve just finished our next album, which should be released later this year. It differs from the last record because I’m back on vocal duties, and we’ve returned to a more traditional, punk-infused sound – similar to Thy Dying Light, but with more D-beat, much like the Hate & Terror EP.
Since 2011’s debut demo release Úlfarr, as an integral and driving cornerstone of Cumbrian Black Metal, have recorded a string of incredibly high-quality albums and splits that, without exaggeration, are among the best recorded by anyone in this genre.
Sure, we can trot out the platitudes about the might of Scandinavian Black Metal, or French or more recent innovations from the United States such as the outstanding Lamp of Murmuur. But if you’re British, Úlfarr will inspire considerable pride, because after many years of lame efforts to match Norwegian Black Metal in the late 1990s, we have a band and a Black Metal culture to rival anyone else’s.
Always remember, in Cumbria, where the Fells remember every wound, Úlfarr is the wolf‑spirit that howls the land’s ancient darkness back into life. So, bring on the next album, bring on the darkness.
