album review : Fallen (2011) – Burzum

album : Fallen

artist : Burzum

genre : Black Metal, Ambient

year : 2011

It is that festive time for traditional Burzum fans like me. According to my ritual I make it a point to buy incense sticks and flowers so I can get down to chanting my prayers for the black metal god – Burzum. Die hard is not enough to express the respect. Last year it was his release from prison and ofcourse the life-changing Belus that had given me a new lease of life. With Fallen‘s release – Burzum‘s eighth full length – this decade has already gotten me to mumble that everything is right, everything is bright.

The seven songs on Fallen accommodate a musically ripe Burzum who was amongst the first ones to write the black metal rules. Not caring how anybody judges his music, Burzum has yet again picked the right cards. With a minute of whispering on Fra Verdenstreet, the familiar raw riffing on Jeg Faller reminds me as to why exactly I could not wait for the release of Fallen till the month of March. On Fra Verdenstreet (as well as on Enhver til Sitt), Burzum can be heard speaking on and off while we are getting doped up by his screeches.

Fallen has a lot of clean singing being sprayed into our ears, and we can hear that on one of the richest tracks – Valen. Repeating the melody in bits and pieces ensues on Valen as well as the next tracks Vanvidd and Budstikken because seemingly that is what makes Burzum who he is. Infact Vanvidd is where exclusivity is bred as Burzum tries more depressive and possessed vocals. The custom of long tracks continues with Budstikken (which clocks over ten minutes) and Valen (over nine minutes long). The outro Til Hel og tilbake igjen has various beats and is more along the ambient lines.

It is a close call between Belus and Fallen, and with much mental suffering I have to say that Belus has that edge over Fallen. The madness that had followed the release of Belus had beaten the colossal effect that Det Som Engang Var had made, and Fallen very minutely settles to a close second spot along with the 1993 album. I’m unaware of this French artist Adolphe-William Bouguereau whose painting was chosen to grace the front cover of Fallen.

There is some kind of an emotional jolt when I have to think of winding up another Burzum review but not before I shoot my words in my own style. If there is a separate planet for all the black metal bands and fans then it would be Burzum who’d cut the ribbon following which he would call the shots. And the rest of us can be sure of dancing to his tunes as he helps our mind to flow along an indubitable path to nirvana.

Rating : 4.5/5

album review : Belus (2010) – Burzum

I was probably the only Burzum fan left to hear Belus. It was only on 27th of Feb – 2 days after the leak – that I finally got to hear it. Ever since the album leaked I have spent a couple of restless days and cribbed myself for the kind of job I do. I had heard only good things about the album. But I must add here that even if the reviews were bad I would have got myself the album with the same zeal. That is the kind of belief I have in Burzum’s music.

Returning to his fans after almost 11 years, Burzum has not changed in terms of his definition of black metal. When it comes to this genre there are a couple of names that instantly clog your mind. Burzum undoubtedly being one of them has earned that position not only because he slayed Euronymous but also because he is the wolf behind those genre-defining albums - Burzum, Det Som Engang Var, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. And now we have Belus.

I was apprehensive about how Belus would sound considering the disappointing trends certains comebacks have set. But Belus is all Burzum. It is an answer to the shoddy music we get nowadays in the name of raw black metal because Belus is raw as fvck. The album which has eight tracks grows on you each time you play it. I would go on to say Belus is very much on the lines of his best work. Or even better.

There is something about the unique ilk of melody that Burzum produces. It gives me that satisfaction I look for in black metal. Be it det som engang var, naar himmelen klarner, my journey to the stars, or the ever-lovable the crying orc. I get that same feeling when I hear tracks on Belus.

The signature repetitive riffs and beats are all present on this comeback. Though I love each track the ones that are an addiction already are belus’ doed, glemselens elv,  kaimadalthas’ nedstigning. The only thing that I am missing on this record are those screams, as Burzum has chosen to be harsher this time.

Burzum has given me a reason to believe that certain things in life can always be depended on. I hold things that are close to my heart in high regard and now Belus is one of them. I always feel I was late in discovering Burzum and ever since I heard him, his creations have meant beyond just music to me. Burzum (the word) doesn’t just mean darkness, he personifies it. A darkness that is so pristine, and fulfilling that it gives the antonym of brightness an altogether new meaning.

Belus is another cult offering, with every element intact. If you look for that wholesomeness in your music, then Belus is your answer, and Burzum – your mentor.

Rating : 4.5/5

also read :

Burzum – Spell Of Frustration

album review : Demonic Resurrection – The Return To Darkness

Burzum – spell of frustration

"i am varg, no ?"

Just when I thought Burzum could do some peaceful farming in his hometown Telemark, Norway and get back to making music after serving about 18 years imprisonment, I read somewhere that a movie is being made based on him. ahem !

Burzum has influenced most of what I feel about black metal and it was roughly six years back when I played his album det som engang var. He was one of the first I heard in black metal (its a fight between him and Ancient), and I can never get over his music. What ever it is that he is associated with, for me he remains that teenager who gave me some insane metal. He had to be possessed by an evil spirit to make music like that. And I wish The Crying Orc was a never ending track. Ain’t it ?

bored of chaos !

Now that he is finally out, he is going to have a hard time struggling to stay out of limelight. Nowthat he is no longer a teenager. But from the looks of it that day is not too far when Burzum would want to get back to jail (this time with family) and spend some more peaceful time after being exposed to what is happening on the other side of prison !

Talking about the movie that is being made, Jackson Rathbone (from Twilight) is apparently playing Varg which will be based on a book named Lords Of Chaos. The makers should know there are other ways of making money than touching a subject they obviously do not know. To begin with deciding to drop this idea would be great. The book in question has been shunned by Burzum as being full of crap. So if the makers are reading this, beware - Burzum is once again a free man !

pleasure to kill !

Also read

and I will not be Resurrected