Dauði Baldrs

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Dauði Baldrs
Dauði Baldrs cover
Studio album by Burzum
Released 1997
Recorded 1994-1995
Genre Ambient
Length 39:10
Label Misanthropy Records
Producer Varg Vikernes
Burzum chronology
Filosofem
(1996)		 Dauði Baldrs
(1997)		 Hliðskjálf
(1999)
Alternate covers
Image:Burzum DaudiBaldrs.jpg
cover with misprint of "Burzum" as "Burzu"
cover of the "Balder's Død" release of this album
cover of the "Balder's Død" release of this album

Dauði Baldrs (The Death of Baldr or Baldr's Death) is an album by the Norwegian black metal solo project Burzum, however this album is an ambient/neo-classical album. The album was recorded on a synthesizer while Varg Vikernes was in prison since he was not allowed to have any other instruments.

The album is about the legacy of Baldr, the second son of Odin in Norse mythology. Most likely a concept album, as the whole album leads up to Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world in Norse mythology.

The album was originally supposed to be named Baldrs Død. Some releases of this album bear this name, as well as a different cover. Additionally, some copies of the album have a misprint of the Burzum logo, spelling it "Burzu". Rare original pressings of the LP include an 8 page booklet with artwork and Norwegian text as well as a set of 6 tarot cards.

Contents

[edit] The music

Stylistically, the album is a mix of medieval music, ambient, classical and minimalism, a huge stray away from the raw black metal that characterised Burzum's earlier work. Some songs are very folk-driven and medieval, while some are sparse, hypnotic ambient minimalist songs, particularly Illa Tiðandi. The songs contrast each other quite a lot, with the title track, Bálferð Baldrs and Í Heimr Heljar being the most medieval-like. Móti Ragnargkum contains monophonic sections mixed with other thicker sections. Illa Tiðandi is easily the most minimalist track, with only two sections being repeated over the 10:29 duration, which are both simple piano melodies, which are eventually accompanied by a choral chant.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Dauði Baldrs" - 8:49
  2. "Hermoðr Á Helferð" - 2:41
  3. "Bálferð Baldrs" - 6:05
  4. "Í Heimr Heljar" - 2:02
  5. "Illa Tiðandi" - 10:29
  6. "Móti Ragnarokum" - 9:04

English translations:

  1. "The Death of Baldr"
  2. "Hermodr on a Journey to Hel"
  3. "Baldr's Burning"
  4. "In Hel's House"
  5. "Bad News/Ill Tidings"
  6. "Towards Ragnarok"

Illa Tiðandi is actually an alternative version of Gebrechlichkeit 1.

[edit] Credits

[edit] External links