Burzum
Det som engang var

THE REVIEW

Assalam DeBaser

After a long time, I have returned to writing reviews. With regret, I observe a huge and stupid racism on this site; for example, I would (very sarcastically) thank all those who have called me a fake, not to mention some anonymous and racist idiot. I hope you editors won't cut my venting.

I am going to review an album that struck me greatly: introduced to me for the first time by a schoolmate (IPSIA in Padua, I am a fellow countryman of a certain Bisius). The first time I thought: "Allah will surely punish me for listening to such demonic satanism!" But I immediately told him where to go, as you say, and let myself be absorbed by the icy and terribly grim atmospheres of this big shot in misanthropic-forest music. Misanthropy is the icy gust of disdain and hatred for the rabble that persists from the sharp and possessed voice of Master Burzum; forests are the lands of long solitary walks, reading the works of a literary figure like Tolkien (I myself have done thorough research on this metal writer, and own several of his works, memories of a dark past concealed by religious authorities, a past that is the theme of this CD, which means "what once existed").

This is an album birthed from a base and damnably brilliant mind, that of a man, a devil, a satanist who fully conveys his religious fundamentalism to us. Now let's look at the tracks that compose the work.

It all began with "Den onde kysten", the evil coasts, a fitting intro to a damned and gloomy album. The mind goes to the Norwegian fjords, carved and tortured by centuries of erosion and waves, the coasts of hell, where Charon ferries the damned and everything is weeping and gnashing of teeth of depraved souls. And as we land on the infernal coast, here we are in front of the barred gate: to proceed, we need the next song "key to the gate", a key to the gate, a track that leaves a bitter hint of despair, a hint expressed by Burzum's guitar that preludes one of the best tracks, "En Ring til å herske", one ring to rule. Anyone will associate it with the sublime poet Tolkien: “One Ring to rule them all, one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”. The misanthropic will to command of the Wolf Burzum is expressed at its maximum power. Next song, the absolute masterpiece of the Count: "Lost Wisdom", lost wisdom. The track starts with a captivating, almost danceable rhythm, certainly drawn from the Scandinavian folklore repertoire, which continues with the inhuman cries of the fierce demon who questions the oddities that confuse us, make us lose wisdom and lead us to Hell. The melody dominates, a mephitic music that evokes burnt churches or enormous gothic cathedrals adorned with macabre gargoyles. Excellent. We continue with "Han som reiste", he who traveled, it could be the author himself or perhaps an elemental demon that Burzum met in a mystical delirium: non-sung track, very atmospheric, just like "Når himmelen klarner", when the sky clears, almost a moment of relief after the darkness when a ray of Sun touches the darkest and blackest soul. We do not have time to relax because the darkness, evil, despair return with the shrill voice and macabre music of "Snu mikrokosmos tegn", rotate the seal of the microcosm, an enigmatic title that can lend itself to the most varied interpretations; it certainly regards Tolkien. The diabolic journey concludes with "Svarte troner", the black thrones, and what better finale if not arriving at the sacred thrones of Satan, where the Enemy resides and dominates?

Definitely, an album to have if you love grim emotions like despair, misanthropy, and solitude.

But a salama, or rather Aark ta Virdkund!