Borknagar
Universal

A black drop on a stem in the moonlight. And excuse me if it's little.

Among the many methods to summarize "Universal", the latest sound kaleidoscope by the Norwegians Borknagar, perhaps the most suitable lies in the concept of "fusion": between melody and aggressiveness, Black metal and Progressive auroras, clean vocals and infernal growls, Folk and pure Seventies influences. Four years have passed since that acoustic gem known as "Origin", and here is the band of Vintersorg, author of the usual commendable performance, returning to offer us a sort of crystal icosahedron, capable of flooding the observer's eyes with ever-changing and shifting colors.

"Universal" starts with "Havoc", a track that, while not being able to be considered a compendium of the entire album, already presents several key characteristics, including a hint of epicness and a delightful return to the violence of the "Empiricism" era. The tracks follow rapidly and fluently, in an album that never bores and knows how to deliver moments capable of warming the heart (try listening to "The Stir Of Season": it will be like walking at dusk in a forest with fiery leaves next to the fresh-faced blonde who has long enchanted you). And if anyone was worried about the change of drummer, rest your soul in the ocean of tranquility: Dave Kinkade's performance is indeed worthy of praise. Not to mention the keyboards of Lazare, or the sublime ICS Vortex, who makes his voice soar in the concluding "My Domain".

In short, everything as usual: an inspired Vintersorg, the usual mix of Black and Prog, the Folk influences...well, perhaps TOO much as usual: and here's where the real weak point of "Universal" lies. Borknagar, in fact, returns with a work of undeniable quality - but, after all, looking at the lineup, these people wouldn't produce bad music even if they wanted to - that, however, does not offer any truly new ideas and ends up resting lazily on itself: a real pity. A certain concern arises even just thinking about it, but...could our Borknagar also be starting to run out of ideas?