Burzum - Umskiptar

I have enjoyed every Burzum album since Varg Vikernes' release from prison. Even if they have not lived up to his earlier works, they all still have that feel from that period. With the new album, 'Umskiptar', the feel is still there except dusk has arrived. It is getting warmer and the chills of the dark past appear gone but not forgotten.

He is still displaying those simple tremolo picked notes that remain so effective. This time they tend to hang around in the background more as their is a sense of dust blowing up from the dirty trails getting in the way. And after 'Joln' is what we have come to know of Burzum, 'Alfadanz' truly comes across as just that. The tempo is slower and the slight disjointedness in the riffs sounds awesome. Perhaps my favourite Burzum song from the last three albums.

The tone in these riffs remind me a bit of 'Det Som Engang Var', but without the cold atmosphere and less evil. Here, it appears more sad and warmer. The rawness is still evident though, nothing sounds clean and this does help keep a touch of evilness if it is meant to be lurking around somewhere. I also enjoy the slower tempos in the songs as well that mix up between 3/4 and 4/4 beats. It is not the tear away fast tempos that had become a common thing for me with Burzum.

The repetition remains also and again, doesn't get boring. He is one of the only few that can write an eight to ten minute long song consisting of only three riffs and it will still sound great. Take 'Valgaldr' for example. The blend of Varg's cold harsh whispers, clean vocals with the cleaner notes and intricately played tremolo riffs still makes for an interesting listen even if there is no progression.

I have quite liked Varg's vocals on his later albums and again here he mixes it up well. We will never hear the psychotic screams from his early works and I think that has a lot to do with the fact he isn't using a shitty old computer headset to record them on anymore hehe. His cold harsh whispers still give a small sense of that chilling effect and I even find a dark appeal in his spoken word and clean singing. The chanting, the harmonies, this is coming from a guy who is meant to be minimal in his musical abilities.

The last found songs have more of an ambient presence to them. I don't mind it, this is the type of stuff to more sit back and relax to. It just feels like it drags on a bit too much. But I know it will grow on me. Perhaps the woman riding off into the distance with her child as pictured on the album cover has finally stopped riding and will now rest through the night nursing her child safely in her arms as she stands guard in case the people from her village she has taken refuge from may find her. 

With 'Umskiptar', Varg has again shown that he doesn't need influence from any other band to create the music he truly wants to create. You just know that the only band he is taking any influence from is his own and I really admire that. Also give him credit for the fact that he is making the music for himself and no one else. A lot of artists fall into the trap these days of pleasing others before pleasing themselves.

For me, one thing is certain.. Like it or not, Burzum still embodies that spirit of true black metal. Perhaps not entirely in style, but certainly in everything else..

Ikil