The
self-titled Borknagar’s debut is dated 1996 and it’s highly influenced by
the underground aura of the early ‘90, the production is too messy and only
one or two songs are good, but from that base something original and
incredible was taking form. In ’97 "The Olden Domain" (vote 9),
after one year of work, came-out and it was for sure a surprise. Starting from
the black-Viking riffs of the debut Oysten Brun created an album that is one
of the better Norwegian pagan metal
albums.
There are interesting melodic lines and the Garm clean-voice, alternate to the
black-screaming, is capable to bring the listener in a deep journey through
the mist of nature, in a land forlorn, an ancient kingdom, far from the
christian lies. The keyboard parts helped the drawing of that picture.
Leaving apart all the epic-imaginary Oysten was searching a more spiritual
approach, without losing the aggression. In certain moments you have the
sensation to fly like a northern eagle upon those lands of majesty.
The
mysteries of a triumphant nature is what Borknagar searched, succeeding, to
archive in that album, as also in the third album, the ‘97 "The Archaic
Course"
(Vote 8.5). The new singer, the same that appeared as guest in the Arcturus’
masterpiece "La Masquerade Infernale", extended the clean-vocal
parts with great ability and results. The riffs turned to bee more melodic and
heavy oriented then before, but the drumming still remained linked to the
black-assault style.
"Quintessence"
(Vote 8.5) is the title of the Borknagar release that showed a certain
progression, involving a Solefald member on the keys. The same mystic-pagan
feeling was a bit deformed by a very moderate psychedelic influence. There was
much more aggression compared to "The Archaic Course", guitars were
turning-back to black-metal, getting lost the heavy melodic approach. At the
end of 2001, with a new singer, Vintersorg, Borknagar released "Empiricism"
(Vote 8.5), a fresh return of pagan energy. It’s incredible how Borknagar
has been able to keep that kind of level thorough the years, without any big
fault they have reached a very respected status. From the beginning they have
developed with the clean vocals, more present in that last release. The only
thing that is worrying me is that those vocals lines are covering a
guitars-work sometimes not at the same quality level of "The Archaic
Course". There’s a very strong drum-work, technical and fast, following
the different moods with the appropriate changes, and there are also those
pseudo psychedelic-elements of the previous album. The future is uncertain,
there’s a great quality but the next album will be probably a great
challenge for the future of the band.
