2 Comments 
Borknagar | ‘Urd’
It is so, so easy to take some bands for granted.
Borknagar – veterans, nay true survivors of the former Norse black metal scene – are one such band. They get overlooked constantly and criminally.
Their new album, like almost all of them before, is a signal reminder as to why they should be exalted alongside Enslaved as how to exit BM properly, with dignity, and with incredible new music to show for it.
Think of what you have here. Two of the most stunning vocalists who’ve ever worked in the genre – ICS Vortex, AKA Simen Hastnaes (Arcturus) and Anders Hedlund (Vintersorg) – not competing but actually complementing each other within the same band.
Add to that the talents of ex Solefald brainiac Lars Nedland and long time songwriter Oystein Brun, and you’ve got the equivalent of a supergroup. Yet it’s a group who are restrained, mature and intent on just making the music that suits them.
It’s a slow burning album of great depth and great diversity.
Opener ‘Epochalypse’ is the perfect start, with its various sections and hooks powering forth, full of harmony and motion. It’s a starry track that sets the pace for the remainder. Epic, towering and a real piece of musical craftsmanship.
‘Roots’, following up, has a sinewy guitar lead line that recalls the band’s earliest history – a history, remember, that interwove with the most vintage Ulver black metal – with probably the fastest tempo on the album. Its solo reminds of Amorphis, Opeth, and all the best metal of that great era.
Standout track on here however is ‘Earthling’, which over its seven minutes opens out into the most amazing, accessible and epic chorus the band have penned in their long history. The song’s scope reminds of the best Therion – but topped out with Vintersorg and Vortex’ vocals, it’s just unstoppable.
And that’s what sums up this fascinating, moreish and incredilby satisfying album. The interplay between the vocalists and musicians is a constant evolution, flowing seamlessly through these tracks.
If you’re feeling bored or out of touch with the underground at the moment, do yourself a favour and pick this beauty up. You’ll come back to it again and again, and indeed again. When, ask yourself, was the last time an album literally invited you to listen once more to hear what it had yet to reveal?
This is one of them. An astounding piece altogether, filled to the brim with the experience and invention only a band utterly sure of themselves and what they have to say can offer.
Epic, colourful, magical in its own way and totally immersive. Pick it up as soon as you can, and support these fantastic individuals in having left BM, but making the kind of awesome metal music that it’s still possible to make.
Respect.
4.7 / 5 – Earl Grey ::: 22/05/12
May 22nd, 2012 at 8:26 am
Sounds class, will have to check it out. They’ve never been quite consistent across a whole album for me, though “Origin” was deadly.
May 22nd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
You know what, I’ve actually never heard Borknagar.I don’t know why (bar they arrived at a time when I was tiring of metal in general)I should really rectify that.
May 22nd, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Very nice review!
2 little tweaks though; Lars Nedland is not “ex Solefald” (Solefald still exists and he is still in the band) and I don’t believe Vortex has any vocals in ‘The Earthling.’
May 22nd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
I enjoy this album in parts but I think it’s a stretch to liken them to Enslaved as far as creativity. It’s a good album though overall, and Borknagar are definitely not a band you can accuse of slacking. Everything I’ve heard from them has been solid to great. Epochalypse is an example of them being great, immense track.
May 23rd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
The thing is now days with technology advances there’s the ability to read an album review first thing in the morning, download the album before work, drive to work while listening to the album and when you get there decide if its any use or not.
I can safely say im not a fan of this type of music; the clean vocal and clean guitar sections reminded me of the little Opeth I know (and don’t enjoy).
Technically its all there, production is ok, but my god its dull, average and at points tedious… I guess i dont need to check out Enslaved’s output either then….
Another band stroked off the list.
May 26th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
After 10 seconds, I knew it was for me. Will be purchasing next week.
May 29th, 2012 at 8:48 am
I’m with Baggy on this one, it’s sounds like what I’d expect the soundtrack to the movie series “Twilight” to sound like.
May 29th, 2012 at 9:18 am
That’s pretty wide of the mark, I’m afraid. Cheap fantasia is far off the agenda across this album. It’s quality all the way.
May 29th, 2012 at 9:49 am
Don’t be afraid, I’m not saying that the guys can’t play!! – they obviously are a very talented bunch of musicians, the quality of playing is clear, and as for the agenda I neither know nor am interested in knowing – But “Cheap Fantasia” is actually a good description of what I hear, mainly due to the god awful vocals ….and not the good side of cheap fantasia either. I’d settle on “Proficient Pap” as a good review.
May 29th, 2012 at 11:47 am
God awful vocals?????
These two are some of the best in the business!!
May 29th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
(Takes another listen) – From a business point of view they probably are, the Twilight series made a lot of money ye know. From every other point of view I can think of they are shockingly tasteless and devoid of any sort of penetrative emotion…again, not in a good way ;0)
It’s obviously not my cup of Grey but 4.7…….really!????