Burzum: Dunkelheit (1996)

Burzum: Dunkelheit (1996)

Dir. David Palser

The only official video release (to date) by Burzum was quickly bought by fans, myself included, and just as quickly divided them. Sure, you could've made it yourself with a home video camera and a meagre knowledge of video editing, but wasn't that the point?

The shaky, conceptual imagery perfectly suited the underlying ethos, capturing and/or translating a resonance and mood that conveyed the dark duality of nature. It's just one song, Dunkelheit from the Filosofem (1995) album, but the chosen visuals complemented the audio, which was a mesmerising minimalism wedded to a harsh but pleasing experimentalism. The repetition, too, played into that.

I've noticed that an individual's feelings toward the work tend to reflect their feelings toward nature; whether or not that holds true with a larger sample size I can't say, but I'd be interested in finding out.

ForeBears (2013)

ForeBears (2013)

Dir. Marie Cachet

A documentary by Marie Cachet and Varg Vikernes (aka 'Count Grishnackh' of Burzum) that chooses to observe its subject, as opposed to commenting on it in any direct, expository way. Structurally it brings three things together into one whole:

• Footage that closely resembles home movies (watch as the Count gets studious with a book before making himself a hot drink in his favourite cup. Oh, the excitement~);

• Excerpts from the Egyptian Book of the Dead;

• Burzum music as soundtrack, namely the Sôl austan, Mâni vestan (2013) album.

The juxtaposition of Varg's life with his wife Marie's is where the film finds something to say.

The freedom that mother and children enjoy is enviable. You may not sympathise with the Pagan belief system, but at least the kids are learning genuine skills, not being instructed in layered religious guilt and shame or how to do algebra.

It can be viewed FREE at Marie Cachet's YouTube channel: ForeBears (2013)

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.

Sorcery and Religion in Ancient Scandinavia (2011)

Sorcery and Religion in Ancient Scandinavia (2011)

Author: Varg Vikernes | Page Count: 128

'[T]he newborn was given the dead person's name and regarded as the same person as the one in the grave.'

Varg Vikernes' personal interpretation of the myths and folklore of his homeland is a short but insightful work.

Its relevance goes beyond just Scandinavia because at heart most creation myths share a common origin and what's true for one is very possibly true for another, so even if you're not of Scandinavian origin there's likely much within its pages to interest a student of lore.

The reason the kinds of stories and legends cited have remained in the human consciousness for centuries is because they've been adapted and changed to fit the society and the times. That change keeps them alive but can warp the original intent and bury the ideas within under so much symbolism that it's impossible for the uneducated mind to see beyond the obvious.

Burzum (1992-96)

Burzum (inc. Aske EP) (1993/92)

The term 'Burzum' first appeared in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books. It means 'darkness' in the Black Speech created by Sauron.

The first Burzum album takes the early Bathory sound and imbues it with Varg Vikernes' conceptual ideas: auditory landscapes that reflected the birthing of evil from the womb of Mordor as described in Tolkien's writings. It's cold and desolate; a soundtrack to pain and decay.

It's a little uneven compared to his later works, but remains an essential purchase for anyone interested in the Norwegian Black Metal scene.