Track Listing

1. Den Onde Kysten
2. Key To The Gate
3. En Ring Til Aa Herske
4. Lost Wisdom
5. Han Som Reiste
6. Naar Himmelen Klarner
7. Snu Milroskosmos Tegn
8. Svarte Troner

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20450 in Music
• Released on: 1997-11-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Customer Reviews

Another essential Burzum release
The second full–length album from Varg Vikernes did not do a great deal to build on the sound of his self–titled debut, or the EP Aske, but nonetheless is a very atmospheric album. Lyrically, it is highly influenced by Tolkien with song titles such as En Ring Til Aa Herske (One Ring to Rule Them All) and Key to the Gate. The album consists of eight tracks, but when the intro and outro, synth piece Han Som Reiste and Naar Himmelen Klarner, an instrumental from his Uruk–Hai days are taken into account, there are only four actual songs left.

Vocally, Varg puts in a stunning performance, his tortured screeches on Lost Wisdom are full of emotion, whilst on En Ring Til Aa Herske he experiments with clean vocals, although these are confined to backing vocals. All the songs feature crushing riffs, but the atmosphere is never compromised. Key to the Gate features an amazing solo. Whilst not technically brilliant, it is the most atmospheric solo I have ever heard. Although the lack of blastbeats is quite surprising for an album like this, he puts in a solid performance in that department, too.

Which finally brings us to the synth track, Han Som Reiste, which can only be described as dire. It sounds like the sort of thing your younger brother or sister would knock up in a couple of minutes on their new Casio keyboard. Unfortunately, this was the direction Vikernes was going to take when he was later imprisoned for the murder of his former friend, Euronymous of Mayhem. But despite this obvious low–point, this is a great black metal album and deserves a place in everyone's collection

Varg is a genius
As soon as you see this album, you know you're in for a treat.
Simply just looking at the detailed, pained and thought-provoking album cover begins to give you an idea of what the CD is going to be like. The first track "Den onde kysten", sets a moody, emotional scene, before "Key to the Gate", with brilliant double-kicking, beautifully constructed guitar parts and the tortured screams, full of emotion and perfectly suiting the lyrics. Every song just compliments the next, and it is mesmorising listening.
Unlike a lot of black metal, Burzum doesn't follow formulaic black metal song patterns: this is pure, heart-felt, original black metal. If you like music like Darkthrone, Mayhem, Absurd or Craft, Burzum is definitely worth checking out.

this is probably one of the best burzum CDs varg at his best
having heard "aske" i knew i had to hear this album , and the second i put it in my CD player i knew this was one of the finest black metal CDs around , with high pitch screams and amazing catchy guitar riffs . this album is a classic , if black metal is your thing you will love it