1992 album for the Norwegian metal act. Eight tracks.Misanthropy Records. Digipak. Album Description
A masterpiece no doubt about it. This album with Hvis Lyset Tar Oss are the best of Burzum. My favorites tracks are En Ring til å herske, Lost Wisdom, Snu mikrokosmos tegn, Key to the gate, and Han som reiste.
This CD got 4 Tracks with lyrics and amazing vocals of Vikernes, and 4 instrumental tracks.
The Norwegian title translates to "What Once Was" in English.
The album's cover is inspired in the gate to Mordor of the Lord of the rings
Track listing:
"Den onde kysten" (The Evil Shores) - 2:20
"Key to the Gate" - 5:14
"En Ring til å herske" (One Ring to Rule) - 7:10
"Lost Wisdom" - 4:38
"Han som reiste" (The One Who Wandered) - 4:51
"Når himmelen klarner" (When the Sky Clears) - 3:50
"Snu mikrokosmos tegn" (Turn the Sign of the Microcosmos) - 9:36
"Svarte troner" (Black Thrones) - 2:16
October 5, 2007 |  | A Demon Singing His Poetry From The Bowels of Hell. |  |
And that's exactly what Varg sounds like on this historic Burzum recording. I read some reviews stating that the sound isn't up to snuff on this CD ... ??? The sound on this is perfect for the amazing songs Varg wrote on here. Lost Wisdom (to me) may be the greatest Black Metal song of all time. It is one of the most beautifully morbid songs I've ever heard. The instrumentals on here are so cold and haunting, that they make some Mayhem tunes sound happy in comparison. Not ripping on Mayhem, they are Gods also, but this Burzum recording is historic, as far as I'm concerned. Like Bathory, Varg's one man Hellish creation will always be copied, but never duplicated. Don't pass up this slice of Black Metal history. Hail Burzum!
January 28, 2007| | | Black metal masterpiece!!! not your monotonous boring junk! | |
yes thats right kids. this album is basically the standard for black metal. lost wisdom and the lord of the rings track are the best fricking songs in the world. and no one other than Varg could compose such music.
he doesnt need blazing fast solos or stupid lyrics or mtv prodcution.
Varg wrote music that was raw and pure. FORGET cradle of filth and all that MTV supported hardcore metalcore junk.
April 7, 2006| | | Celtic Frost with chills and fever. | |
I love Celtic Frost because they could down-tune, riff, and produce memorable, intelligent material. I don't know if you'll find intelligent material on this album, especially if you can't read the lyrics. However, the music itself has Hellhammer and Celtic Frost written all over it. Great guitar riffs. Heavy guitar riffs. Shredding vocals. The whole album has the ambiance of a death metal album recorded while everyone in the band had chills and fever. Yes, "Det Som Engang Var" is a masterpiece. Period. It's just as good as "Filosofem," but in a different way. A different guy could have recorded this album, and if that's true, then the man behind this probably still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Okay. Buy this. Then go get your hands on some Judas Iscariot, and an album by Mord (released by Southern Lord). Those bands follow a similar template, I think. Hell, folks, if you're looking at this album online, then you already know you'll like it...so what are you waiting for? It's worth it.
April 3, 2006Varg's metal albums excel not through technical complexity, but rather through the arrangement and combination of atmospheres and haeðenfyr. On this release, actual "songs"--musical arrangements with refrains, full arangements, and lyrics--are not in the majorty; the ambient/noise/instrumental pieces are very dark and obscure, while the heavy metal tracks possess a distinct floating/drone quality. Individuals seeking wild guitar solos and fancy drum limes are advised to search elsewhere (Yngwie Malsteem, Morbid Angel, etc.). Each track is an essential piece of the whole; I strongly suggest that this album be listened in its entirety without interruption. Unlike many other albums, it is not composed of several songs that can be appreciated independently and placed on mix cds to be listened to while driving to the local gas station to buy cheap beer.
March 11, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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