(Symphonic Black Metal) Ulcus - Cherish The Obscure - 2000, FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Ulcus saw the light of day in March 1994, but then under the name Ulcus Molle. They come from the rural place called Sogndal, at the end of the mighty Sognefjord in western Norway. The band started up as a quartet consisting of the following members:
STURE: VOCALS & GUITAR
JARLE: BASS
JØRN: DRUMS
HEKTOR: GUITAR
Their first recording was a 4-track rehearsal-tape called "Yggdrasil". It was recorded at the Ulcus rehearsal-place, and was made only for the band's own enjoyment. "Yggdrasil "can be described as trash/death metal and are no longer available.
Late 96 Ulcus Molle made their first "real" recording at Stovner Rockefabrikk in Oslo. The result was a 7-track CD called "Roles" It can be described as a technical trash/power metal. "Roles" got a lot of good reviews, and several record labels made offers to work with Ulcus Molle, but none of the offers where considered good enough. Other important factors that made the band decide not to sign with any label, was line-up changes and the new direction the music writing took.
Hektor left the band before the "Roles" recordings, and was replaced by Stian who added a new dimension to the band as lead guitarist. Stian had earlier played as session guitarist with the Norwegian folkloric black metal band Windir. After "Roles" Jarle took over most of the music and the entire lyric composing, and the band altered their musical expression. At the same time they added keyboard to the band, and they found the man they searched for in the local keymaster Gaute.
After these changes the band recorded 4- new tracks in a studio in Sogndal early 98. In April the MCD "Malicious Triumph" was ready. It was much darker more melodic and aggressive than the earlier recordings. It marked a new start for the band. It got a very good reception, a lot of good reviews and interest from several record labels. But one label staked out from the others with genuine interest in the band. In January 99 Ulcus signed a contract with Shiver Records from Belgium for 2 full-length CD's.
The band thought of changing their name after "Roles", as they practical became a new band. But the decision wasn't made until January 99, and they kept some of their roots by changing the name to ULCUS.
The full-length debut is entitled "CHERISH THE OBSCURE". It consists of nine tracks of dark, aggressive yet highly melodic metal. It will be out on Shiver Records in February 2000.
The band hope to get out on the road doing some live-shows to promote "Cherish the obscure" this spring / summer, but no dates have been confirmed yet. A lot of new material has already been written and Ulcus are planning to record their follow up CD this autumn. But their main priority the next months is to promote their new masterpiece "Cherish the obscure".