Burzum (1997-99)

Dauði Baldrs (1997)

Regardless of how you or I feel about the man behind Burzum, there's no denying that he made some of the finest Black Metal in his time.

Dauði Baldrs is different. It was the first release composed while sat in a prison cell. Being denied a guitar meant it had to be constructed on a PC and as a result it's mostly synth.

It tells the story of Baldur, Loki and the coming of Ragnarök. There are no lyrics, so you'll need to read the accompanying booklet or research the story elsewhere. It's not hard to find.

The atmospheric repetitiveness of his earlier works sometimes translates well, but it occasionally comes across as a weak imitation of the real thing. Consequently, it will likely either find a responsive trance-like niche in the listener's head after repeated listens or it will infuriate and/or disappoint.

Hliðskjálf (1999)

Hliðskjálf was made under the same constraints as Dauði Baldrs, but it sounds fuller and has less fumbling.

It's once more exploring Norse mythology through the medium of music, without the need for vocals.

The dark ambient sound needs a suitably dark ambient environment to work in. If the quiet reflection of Rundtgåing av den Transcendentale Egenhetens Støtte (Filosofem, 1996), or Tomhet (Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, 1994) didn't make you hit the stop button, then you may connect with Hliðskjálf more than the average Burzum fan.

A trilogy of instrumental/ambient works was promised, but sadly the final part never appeared. I suspect that Varg repurposed any pieces that he'd already written into his post-prison releases.

I was very much looking forward to the closing work, and hoping for another beautiful vinyl edition similar to what was released for the two albums mentioned here.