Ulkum - First Prophecy

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Review by David Sasaki

First Prophecy by Ulkum: A Crushing Descent into Metal’s Abyss Let’s get one thing straight—Ulkum’s First Prophecy isn’t for the faint-hearted. This 2017 release is a brutal collision of Doom, Black, and Death Metal that feels like being punched in the gut while someone whispers apocalyptic poetry in your ear. Hailing from the US and Canada, this self-released beast (with help from labels like Redefining Darkness) hits hard, loud, and unapologetically raw. The album kicks off with "I. Clothed In The Ashes Of Fallen Brethren," and holy hell, it sets the tone. The riffs are slow-moving avalanches of despair, courtesy of Joshua James Ans on guitar and Aaron Patrick Lott shredding lead lines that sound like they were forged in some infernal foundry. Jonathon Andrew Roll’s drumming pounds like war drums signaling the end times, while Jesse Geirr Conaway’s bass lurks beneath it all, adding depth to the chaos. But what sticks? The vocals. Ans doesn’t just sing—he screams, growls, and howls like he’s channeling every ounce of rage humanity has ever felt. It’s haunting as fuck, man. You don’t forget something like that. Then there’s "II. Breathe Darkness, Swallow Light." If you thought the first track was heavy, this one drags you deeper into the abyss. The pacing here is relentless, switching between suffocating doom sections and blastbeat-driven fury faster than you can catch your breath. What makes it stick? The lyrics—they’re cryptic but visceral, painting images of desolation and rebellion that crawl under your skin. And when the guitars break into those eerie harmonies near the middle? Chills. Straight-up chills. Credit where it’s due: the production nails the balance between polished clarity and raw grit. John Allen’s engineering keeps everything tight without losing the organic feel, and David Thames’ artwork matches the music perfectly—dark, foreboding, and dripping with occult vibes. Shoutout to Patrick Broderick too, whose design work ties the whole package together. So yeah, First Prophecy is an absolute monster. It’s not perfect—it’s messy, chaotic, and at times overwhelming—but damn if that ain’t the point. This album doesn’t hold your hand; it grabs you by the throat and drags you through fire and brimstone. And here’s the kicker: after listening to this, I couldn’t help but wonder… does Ulkum know they’ve created something so ugly it’s beautiful? Or are they out there somewhere laughing because we’re all still trying to process it? Either way, respect.

Download Ulkum - First Prophecy
Artist: Ulkum
Album: First Prophecy
Rating: 3.0

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: ulkum-first-prophecy.zip
  • MP3 size: 30 mb
  • FLAC size: 226.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Breathe Darkness, Swallow Light8:47
II. Breathe Darkness, Swallow Light8:48
Clothed In The Ashes Of Fallen Brethren14:42
I. Clothed In The Ashes Of Fallen Brethren14:40
Children Of Ulkum11:18
III. Children Of Ulkum11:14

Images

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Catalog Numbers

  • LFD05
  • REDA018

Labels

  • Live Fast Die Records
  • Not On Label (Ulkum Self-released)
  • Redefining Darkness

Listen online

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  • écouter en ligne
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Formats

  • 50 × Cassette
  • 3 × File
  • FLAC
  • CD
  • Album
  • Limited Edition

Companies

RoleCompany
Copyright (c)Redefining Darkness
Manufactured By8merch.com
Pressed Bywmfono

Credits

RoleCredit
ArtworkDavid Thames
BassJesse Geirr Conaway
DesignPatrick Broderick-Van Oss
DrumsJonathon Andrew Roll
GuitarJoshua James Ans
VocalsJoshua James Ans
Lead GuitarAaron Patrick Lott
Mixed ByJonathon Andrew Roll
ProducerJonathon Andrew Roll
Recorded ByJohn Allen
EngineerJohn Allen
GraphicsPatrick Broderick
LayoutPatrick Broderick
PerformerAaron Patrick Lott, Jesse Conaway, Jonathon Andrew Roll, Joshua James Ans, Patrick Broderick

Notes

  • Cassette version on Live Fast Die Records.
  • Paper 2 panel Jcard.
  • B&w paper labels on a black shell with shell screws.
  • Edition of 50.
  • Recorded live on radio station KFAI for "The Root Of All Evil" radio show 9/24/17.
  • Download taken via the artist's bandcamp page. Band's line-up in incorrect, according to the bandcamp page description.
  • 4-panel Digipak limited to 200 copies.
  • This release was meant to include the Demonstration release as bonus tracks. However, due to a problem those tracks are not present on this release, though they appear in the printed tracklist.
  • The tracklist, as it appears on the rear cover:
  • I. Clothed In The Ashes Of Fallen Brethren
  • II. Breathe Darkness, Swallow Light
  • III. Children Of Ulkum
  • IV. Demonstration I
  • V. Demonstration II
  • VI. Demonstration III
  • Quote from the Label:
  • "There was an issue with the pressing and the 3 rehearsal bonus tracks do not appear on the CD. The CD contains only the "First Prophecy" album."
  • Tracks I - III Recorded Live on KFAI for The Root of All Evil 9.24.17
  • Tracks IV - VI Recorded in practice 2017
  • Mixing & Production by Jonathon Andrew Roll
  • © 2018 Redefining Darkness Records

Barcodes

  • Barcode (Text): 7 93150 67215 8
  • Matrix / Runout: 1408633202 8MERCH.COM
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI LT57
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI Z945

About Ulkum

American funeral doom/ death and black metal mixed quartet. Founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2014. Patrick Broderick-Van Oss was replaced by Jonathon Andrew Roll (Neidhart von Reuental) on the drums, while Jesse Geirr Conaway joined as the new bass player in time for their "First Prophecy" release.

Members

  • Aaron Lott
  • Patrick Broderick-Van Oss
  • Joshua James Ans
  • Jonathon Andrew Roll
  • Jesse Geirr Conaway

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: the album *First Prophecy* by Ulkum is a raw blend of Doom Metal, Black Metal, and Death Metal. It’s like a dark journey brought to life through heavy riffs and haunting vocals. What makes it even more interesting? The whole thing was self-released by the band in 2017 across the US and Canada, but later picked up by labels like Redefining Darkness. The artwork, handled by David Thames, perfectly matches the grim vibe of the music. Fun fact: Jonathon Andrew Roll didn’t just play drums—he also mixed and produced the album, making it a true DIY labor of love. Tracks like "Clothed In The Ashes Of Fallen Brethren" hit hard, both musically and thematically. It's underground metal at its finest!