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Borknagar |
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The Archaic Course |
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Line up:
Simen Hestaes - Vocals
Oystein G. Brun - Guitars
Jens F. Ryland - Guitars
Kai K. Lie - Bass Guitars
Grim - Drums
Ivar Bjornsen - Keyboards |
Track Listing:
Oceans Rise
Universal
Witching Hour
The Black Token
Nocturnal Vision
Ad Noctum
Winter Millenium
Fields of Long Gone Presence |
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Borknagar's third album, The Archaic Course, continues down the road of their different approach at black metal. Simen Hestaes (A.K.A. ICS Vortex) has an amazing black metal voice and a superb singing voice, where his Norwegian accent is apparent. Oceans Rise is the opening song, with a good amount of singing and his voice shines majestically throughout the song. Universal is an epic Viking-esque song where Simen's vocals are top notch and gorgeous. Influenced from Norwegian folk, Nocturnal Vision, is another standout track. The album ends on an ambient note with Fields of Long Gone Presence. A good album, which I recommend, a very talented group of musicians. Grade: B+ |
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Borknagar |
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Empiricism |
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Line up:
Vintersorg - Vocals
Oystein G. Brun - Guitars
Jens F. Rylend - Guitars
Tyr - Bass Guitars
Asgeir Mickelson - Drums
Lars Nedlund - Keyboards |
Track Listing:
The Genuine Pulse
Gods of My World
The Black Canvas
Matter & Motion
Soul Sphere
Inherit the Earth
The Stellar Dome
Four Element Synchronicity
Liberated
View of Everlast |
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After the departure of Simen Hestaes, who is now playing bass guitar and doing clean vocals for Dimmu Borgir, the band brought in Vintersorg to take over. With his presence, the band has kept their same approach, but yet at the same time altering it a little. Vintersorg has a crisper singing voice than Simen does, the accent is not as apparent, and his gutteral vocals are really good. Matter & Motion is an instrumental track of piano only. The last half of the song is best part of it, though the whole thing is really good. Standout tracks of the heavier nature are The Genuine Pulse, Gods of My World, and Soul Sphere, though all the tracks are extremely good. The album ends on a softer, pretty note with View of Everlast, which is probably my favorite song on the album. The orchestration of the piece with Vintersorg's spoken and singing parts. It is done very well. Grade: A- |
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