Icons feed the fires, part 2
Someone was telling me the other day how “great” the death metal band Morbid from Sweden were. Of course everyone knows about them and has probably heard their “December Moon” demo. This is because the infamous and revered Dead performed the vocals and possibly, at a push, because it features soon-to-be members of Entombed.
But Morbid, even on this “cult classic” recording are far too “rock” oriented, too simplistic to be a great band (or even to really show hints of being one), despite the easy charm of the songs and the mostly excellent and unearthly vocal performance of Mr Dead. Indeed, Ohlin was recruited into Mayhem on the strength of his performance here, as Attila later would be from his work on Tormentor’s “Anno Domini”. It was apparent that the obvious talents of Dead would be better utilised elsewhere.
Later Morbid material (after Dead left) moved further in this rock driven direction, and Entombed would eventually move even further into good old rock ‘n’ roll before being consumed by it utterly.
So ultimately we’re left with a decent(ish) and somehow quaintly enjoyable but otherwise totally forgettable recording, made famous and selling many copies merely by virtue of the iconic status of one of its more talented contributors.
And then there’s Burzum’s new album, “Belus”.
A lot has already been written and said about Vikernes’ comeback album and without exception it all comes back to his previous, undisputed classic albums of the black metal genre, the likes of “Det Som Engang Var” and ”Hvis Lyset Tar Oss”.
Without doubt, Vikernes is an iconic leading figure in black metal and the monumental status that Burzum maintains within underground metal means that any new work he creates, especially after a gap of many years, will cause angry and heated debate as to its merits, or lack of.
Now let’s be brutally honest, “Belus” isn’t great. It’s barely even good. It certainly isn’t the equal of any of the previous albums (no, not even the ambient works, you philistines).
Let’s also get something straight, I really wanted to like this album. At a time when almost nothing of real quality is released anymore, I desperately wanted this album to be something special, for it to have the almost magical power of being able to transport the listener to fantastic realms of imagination, to take you on a mysterious journey of unexpected discoveries as the music gradually unravelled.
All that I found in “Det Som Engang Var”. It was only with a reluctant, grudging realisation that I found this was not the case with “Belus”. As much as I wanted to love this new album, I couldn’t find it in myself to pretend that it’s somehow as good or even better than his previous works.
For a band like Taake, whose music verges on the sweetly fluid emo-melodious side of black metal, “Belus” would be a good album. For any band playing what people mockingly call norsecore, “Belus” would be a good album. And when I say “good”, I only mean in terms relative to the bands in question.
But when we talk about Burzum, listening to “Belus” is a bit like opening a fine bottle of a good vintage champagne and finding it filled with cheap lemonade. And no amount of self-delusion on the part of disappointed fans can hide that.
Tags: aske, atilla, belus, black metal, burzum, de mysteriis dom sathanas, dead, death metal, december moon, den hvite guden, det som engang var, entombed, euronymous, filosofem, hvis lyset tar oss, mayhem, morbid, new album, norway, norwegian black metal, oystein aarseth, per yngve ohlin, suicide, sweden, tormentor, varg vikernes
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:26 am
“I desperately wanted this album to be something special, for it to have the almost magical power of being able to transport the listener to fantastic realms of imagination, to take you on a mysterious journey of unexpected discoveries as the music gradually unravelled.”
Yes, this is what I wanted, as well.
“It was only with a reluctant, grudging realisation that I found this was not the case with “Belus”.”
Wait… Are we listening to the same album? If anything, Belus has more of that effect, for me, than Det Som Engang Var, Aske, and the debut, combined. Every song brings images to my mind, mostly of a “Light vs. Dark” nature. Simple things, like sunlight filtering through the trees, or more complex scenes – the last two tracks put me in mind of awakening to Sunlight after a time of seemingly endless darkness, and then observing a grand procession in proclamation of the glory of Baldr.
Tell you what – it might help to read the bloody lyrics, and make an effort to understand what the music is showing us, rather than simply aim to score cool-points with the ANUSites by writing an article which rehashes what they’ve already said while giving none of your own points as to why you (supposedly) see things the way you (supposedly) do. In fact, you don’t even give their points – you merely say “it’s bad, here’s an analogy, lololol now I’m cool too”.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I can really only agree with Cargést… I wouldn’t have cared about it alot if it would have been a failure, but this is really good. The feeling which I experience is not just some trendy stigmatization of the album; I haven’t even spoke to my friends about this matter; I have just heard it with ALOT OF SCEPTICISM and concluded that I appreciate it. I appreciate it alot. It is probably more of the other way around, I have a nostalgic respect to the old albums rather than a trendy folly of following the crowdism of the name Burzum (the media-engendered one). This album has a thought, and I’d just be happy if he released the lyrics for the album; but he also added music. This album is pagan philosophy with the love of nature over man, and music edificated only to enhance the experience. This is music in it’s true form; with a philosophy underlying; in lieu of an unstable and incorrigible desire… Your criticism is entitled, but I cannot say it entails a full understanding of the album.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Um, Cargest, weren’t you the idiot at the ANUS blog who said that “War” was Burzum’s best ever track? Sure, the track works well in the context of the debut album, but come on…
February 24th, 2010 at 3:13 am
I mostly agree with the article I think. The article doesn’t even say it’s a bad album as such, just that we expect more from Burzum. There’s just way too many rubbish budget riffs in there that ruin the atmosphere.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:06 am
“Um, Cargest, weren’t you the idiot at the ANUS blog who said that “War” was Burzum’s best ever track?”
Even after all the fapping over Belus I still hope he was trolling there.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:00 am
Haha, War is a fucking good song. Fuck context, just listen to War on repeat!
My favourite Burzum tracks are probably My Journey to the Stars, Stemmen Fra Taarnet, War, Snu Mikrokosmos Tegn, Kaimadalthas’ Nestigning, Keliohesten, Jesus Dod, and En Ring Til AA Herske, in no real order. Notice how tracks from Belus have managed to sneak in there already.
I am more judgmental than most. I am more judgmental than the DLA. However, the DLA is looking at Belus with entirely the wrong perspective, which is probably causing them to be unable to even enjoy the album.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:58 am
Cargest, you may not realise this, but “War” is an overt homage to Bathory and only slightly alters the main riff from a track on the debut “Bathory” album.
Having said that, it is a good song and enjoyable, but like I said, IN CONTEXT, as the debut Burzum is the most 1st wave influenced Burzum work.
The Uruk Hai tracks on “Belus” don’t work because of the context in which they’re placed. Plus, they aren’t even enjoyable like “War” is.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:41 am
How dare you insult our great fuhrer Varg Vikernes. You should be ashamed and quickly suicide yourselfs. 14/88!
I suck cocks by the way.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I know exactly what War is, Symes, and I am simply baffled by your inability to appreciate it for its own qualities, rather than for its being a “homage to Bathory”. The same is true of Kaimadalthas’ Nestigning, which is vastly superior to most of the debut and Filosofem.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Hai guiz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym9MprD2Jh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycQ34kqZ-A8
I lol’d.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Belus continues where Filosofem left off. If ye don’t like Belus ye simply don’t like Burzum. It is no different than the previous albums. Same old simplistic melodies – same old hypnotic repetitions.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:47 am
To Reginhard
If you go to Burzum’s official site you’ll find the lyrics of “Belus” in a few languages.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Reginhard meant that he would’ve been happy if Vikernes had released the lyrics alone – the music is an added boon.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
listened to a few songs-not sure-don’t hate it I know that-
I guess I could be considered a Burzum “fan”-not an influence of any kind..
I am old geezer who was a young teen when Morbid Tales came out..
so my influences were already set before I heard Burzum (conversely-Mayhem is an influence because luckily back in the day of tape trading-I got to hear the early shit as it came out-in a way I pity you young kids-it’s all wrapped up nice and neat for you to listen and find bands-the “old days” it was much more of journey to find good underground shit-and much more fun)
But Varg has a happy talent for a cool riff now and again..
but I thought while he was in the pen he stated many times in a few interviews that he never liked BM and that what he was doing -the ambient shit-was “true Burzum”-(all Varg ball washers please don’t re-gargle everything he says-we all know everytime something is written about him in an interview-from him or someone else-if he does not like it later or it does not fit whatever agenda he has currently-its all a “lie” and he was taken “out of context”-we get-Varg is the center of the world where all conspiracies emanate from-blah-blah-blah)
so now that he is out and can get a hold of a guitar and some drums again he “likes” BM. Again ball washers need not apply-if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and you can shoot it during duck season-it’s probably a duck. It’s black metal. I know he has probably made up his own genre for it-”pagan/nationalist/ceremonial/howling/Bowling/Ski Ball Metal” so as to not look like he is contradicting himself. Not that he should care. Man is imfamous for changing his stories and the good little Black Metal kids just eat it all up….
But I imagine playing BM now vs. Ambient is a little better for the pocketbook-pay some of those legal bills…
but the few songs I listened to were good…not overwhelming…but good…
February 27th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
This probably isn’t Burzum. This is probably a paid imposter hired by a vindictive record label (Earache??) to “play” Varg, which will of course make money. Who knows Grishnack may even be in on this ruse.
March 5th, 2010 at 7:32 am
You were only partly right (in the original text). All of metal (rock) music is superfluous. It’s nothing more than a exhaust-valve made by our technological society. Nothing more and nothing less.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:33 am
I listened to it last night and my response was mixed.
I don’t think the clean vocals worked at all, they jarred against the mood of the music.
Overall I don’t think he played it safe and simply re-hashed old ground but it wasn’t a total mind blowing reinvention either.
The last two tracks, “Morgenrøde” and “Belus’ tilbakekomst (Konklusjon)” really locked into the idea of music creating a trance for the listener and I think thsoe two were the most successful.
I also really liked “Sverddans” but I was slightly thrown by the bizarre solo in the middle.
August 13th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Having (high) expectations for an album can ruin everything.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:38 am
This is a scathing review. I think the album stands up next to other (better?) Burzum material. It is hard to listen to without the history and infamy of the last 16 years in mind. This robs the listener of a completely immersive experience, but definitely doesn’t mean it’s a bad album.