Burzum
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Bergen, Norway  |
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| Genre(s) | Black Metal Ambient |
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| Years active | 1987 - present | |
| Label(s) | Misanthropy Records Deathlike Silence Records |
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| Associated acts |
Mayhem Old Funeral Darkthrone |
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| Website | http://www.burzum.org/ | |
| Members | ||
| Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes) | ||
| Former members | ||
| Samoth Euronymous AiwarikiaR |
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Burzum began in 1987 as a prominent Norwegian black metal solo project of Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). Originally, he used the pseudonym Count Grishnackh. Vikernes is currently serving a prison sentence in Norway for murder and arson. Burzum was instrumental in the crystallisation of early black metal, much of which is due to the infamy attributed to Vikernes since the murder of his former bandmate (Varg played bass on one of Mayhem's albums) Øystein Aarseth. Aarseth is known better to some by his stage name of "Euronymous".
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[edit] Biography
Burzum's early music shows a moderate Tolkien influence; for example, the name Count Grishnackh is taken from an orc character called Grishnákh in Tolkien's works. The choice of the name for the project reflects both this influence and the desire for anonymity: "Burzum" is a word of the Black Speech of Mordor meaning "darkness" (though Vikernes believes that Pagans consider it to mean "light" as opposed to how Christians consider it to mean "darkness"), and is one of those found on the Ring-inscription of the One Ring (the final part of the Ring inscription being "...agh burzum-ishi krimpatul", "...and in the darkness bind them"). Some of Burzum's early songs featured titles like "En Ring Til Å Herske" ("One Ring To Rule"); however, Vikernes later explained this to be a reference to the Rheingold of Norse mythology rather than to Tolkien's works, which themselves owe some debt to Norse mythology. As he continued to release albums, Vikernes' attraction to Norse mythology and Pagan beliefs became more and more apparent. Much of Burzum's later music focuses on Norse legends, especially his most recent two ambient albums: Dauði Baldrs, which deals exclusively with the legend of the death of Baldr, and Hliðskjálf, which recounts the death of Wotan and the approach of Ragnarok.
Musically, Burzum has progressed from primitive, raw black metal to classical-influenced ambient music characterised by minimalist tendencies and dark atmospheres. Vikernes' music is generally considered to be characterised by hypnotic repetition and simple yet profound song structures; this trademark sound has been present on Burzum's black metal and synthieval albums alike. Vikernes has described Burzum as a kind of "spell" or recreation of an imaginary world tied in with Pagan history. Each album, he claims, was designed as a kind of "spell" in itself, with each beginning song intending to make the listener more susceptible to "magic", the following songs to inspire a "trance-like state of mind", and the last song to carry the listener into a "world of fantasy" (dreams, for the listener would fall asleep - Burzum was supposed to have been evening music). Vikernes claims that the intent to create this fantasy world came from dissatisfaction with the real world. He has stated that the "message" of Burzum can be found in the lyrics of the first song of the first album (Feeble Screams From Forests Unknown); that following lyrics act as footnotes.
Currently, Vikernes is in prison for the murder of former musician Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous of Mayhem), as well as the arson of several ancient Norwegian churches. Vikernes is suspected to have taken part in various other crimes, and was believed to have been planning another church burning at the time of his arrest (police found 100 kg of explosives in his home). According to Vikernes himself: "...the claim that I had plans to blow up churches with my dynamite is from 1994, and was made by a guy working for the police. That was the first time I ever heard of such plans, simply because I have never had any such plans." In 2004 during a week long release from prison, he failed to be back in the preordained time. Some days later he was found riding in a stolen car with a gun and a fake passport. Thirteen months were added to his sentence as a result.
I have also experienced that most of the people supporting me or what I stand for are so-called "nazis" - while almost everybody else has just condemned me and then boycotted me and everything I have done. What makes me different from the "nazis" are basically three things; unlike them I am not socialistic (not even on a national level), I am not materialistic and I believe in (the ancient Scandinavian!) democracy.
Varg has stated on burzum.org that "he laughs at people who call him a Nazi" because it is "simply not true", claiming that his earlier connections as a Nazi-like figure was that he tried to describe his ideas and used a politically incorrect or "generalised" term. He also says that he does not follow most Nazi ideals: he claims he is not socialistic, not even on a national level - which would not make him a National Socialist. He also has a good opinion/admiration on the Slavs and their culture, unlike the Nazis. Burzum is often mistakenly labeled as National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM) because of Varg's ideologies (which are seen as racist), despite the fact Burzum has no National Socialist lyrics. In fact, the only line pertaining to race is from "My Journey to the Stars", which is not racist per se as it illustrates war.
Vikernes has also been labeled a Satanist due to his connections with Mayhem, his anti-Christianity and dark lyrics and one of his songs pertaining to Satan ("Dominus Sathanas"). However, Vikernes also states on burzum.org that he never believed in Satanism due to his perception that it is a Judeo-Christian concept and at the time that he labeled himself as Satanist that he was under Euronymous' influence. He also believes that Satanism is a capitalist concept due to so many black metal bands using it. Vikernes claims that he is exclusively pagan/Odalist.
Many of the Burzum albums feature illustrations by the Norwegian 19th century artist Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums (Studio)
- Burzum - (1992) (Reis. 1995) (Guitar Solo on the track "War" was played by Euronymous of Mayhem)
- Det Som Engang Var - (1993)
- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss - (1994)
- Filosofem - (1996)
- Dauði Baldrs - (1997)
- Hliðskjálf - (1999)
[edit] Singles/EPs
[edit] Demos/Promos
- Burzum (Demo I) - (1991)
- Burzum (Demo II) - (1991)
- Burzum (Promo) 1992 - (1992)
[edit] Material on compilations
- Burzum / Aske - (1995) (Misanthropy edition)
- 1992-1997 [Compilation] - (1998)
- Dunkelheit [VHS] - (1996)
- Presumed Guilty - (1998)
- Gummo (Soundtrack) - (1998)
- Anthology - (2002)
- Fenriz Presents ...The Best of Old School Black Metal - (2004)
- Draugen - (2006)
[edit] Bootlegs
- Burzum & Gorgoroth - (1998)
- Svarte Dauen - (1998)
- Blast from the Ancient Past - (1999)
- A Blaze from the Northern Sky ... No Less - (1999)
- Et Hvitt Lys Over Skogen - (2000)
- Ragnarok (A New Beginning) (three editions) - (2000)
- ...Was Einst War - (2001)
- Burzum - (2001)
- Once Emperor - (2002)
- Anthology - (2002)
- Burzum/Svarte Dauen - (2003)
- Dauði Baldrs/Burzum & Gorgoroth - (2003)
- Hliđskjálf/Aske - (2003)
- Filosofem/Demo - (2003)
- Det Som Engang Var/Ragnarok I (A New Beginning) - (2003)
- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss/Ragnarok II (A New Beginning) [- (2003)
- Unreleased Demos - (2003)
- Svarte Dauen & Aske - (2003)
- Demo 91/92 & Svarte Dauen - (2004)
- Valhalla Awaits - (2004)
- Beneath the Ruins of Christianity - (2004)
- Erste Waffen (2004)
- Winterliche Reinheit (2004)
- Demo 1&2 - (2005)
- Blast From The Ancient Past / Svarte Dauen - (2005)
- Ragnarok - Box - (2005)
- Draugen - (2005)
- Feeble Screams - (2005)
- Anthology - Lord Of Darkness - (2005)
- Gamle Snyder - (2006)
- Spell Of Destruction - Feeble Screams pt.II - (2006)
- Stemmen Fra Tarnet - (2006)
[edit] Tribute albums
- Visions-A Tribute to Burzum - Unholy Records (2002).
- A Man, A Band, A Symbol -Wotan's Reich Production (2003).
- Wotan Mit Uns! - Ancient Beliefs (2003).
- The Tribute - Ash Nazg / Perverted Taste (2005).
- Burzum Tribute Attakk - Underground Propaganda Records[1] Burzum Tribute Attakk (2005)
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes) - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Synth, Drums - (1991-)
[edit] Former members
- Samoth (Tomas Haugen) - Bass - (1993)
- Euronymous - Guitar solo on "War"
- AiwarikiaR (Erik Lancelot) - Drums - (never recorded, but was in the band for a short time, in an attempt by Varg to transform Burzum into a live band. After a few weeks Vikernes regretted the idea. This occurred after the release of the Aske EP)
