Burzum

Infobox musical artist
Name = Burzum
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Bergen, Norway
Genre = Black metal
Dark ambient
Years_active = 1991–present (on hold)
Label = Deathlike Silence
Cymophane
Misanthropy
Associated_acts = Mayhem
Old Funeral
Darkthrone
URL = [http://burzum.org burzum.org]
Current_members = Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes)

Burzum is the musical project of Varg Vikernes (under the pseudonym "Count Grishnackh"). It began during 1991 in Bergen, Norway and quickly became prominent within the early Norwegian black metal scene.cite web | url = http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/a_burzum_story01.shtml | title = A Burzum Story: Part I | last = Vikernes | first = Varg | accessdate = 2008-06-07] During 1992 and 1993, Burzum recorded four albums; however, in 1993 Vikernes was convicted and imprisoned for the murder of guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth and the arson of several churches. While imprisoned, Vikernes has recorded two albums in the dark ambient style.

Musical style

Burzum's music features characteristics common in black metal, including distorted, tremolo-picked guitar riffs, harsh vocals, and the use of blast beat and double bass techniques in the drumming. All of the band's albums feature intentionally low production quality. The band'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", or "…and in the "darkness" bind them"). [cite web | url = http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/paganism03.shtml | title = Paganism: Part III | last = Vikernes | first = Varg | accessdate=2008-06-07] 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 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" deals exclusively with the legend of the death of Baldr and "Hliðskjálf" recounts the death of Wotan and the approach of Ragnarök.

Musically, Burzum has progressed from primitive, raw black metal to classical-influenced ambient music characterised by minimalist tendencies and dark atmospheres. Vikernes' music is characterised by hypnotic repetition and simple yet profound song structures; this trademark sound has been present on Burzum's black metal and electronic albums alike. Vikernes has described Burzum as a kind of "spell" or recreation of an imaginary world tied in with Pagan history.Fact|date=June 2008 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 "magick", 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).Fact|date=June 2008 Vikernes claims the intent to create this fantasy world came from dissatisfaction with the real world.Fact|date=June 2008 He has stated the "message" of Burzum can be found in the lyrics of the first song of the first album ("Feeble Screams from Forests Unknown").

History

Early years (1991–1993)

From 1988, Vikernes had been playing in the short lived band Old Funeral which also consisted of members who would later form the band Immortal. He played guitar in the band until 1991 when Old Funeral dissolved and then he chose to form his one man band, Burzum. Soon after recording two demo tapes, he became very involved with the Norwegian black metal scene, being both interested in its music and the ideology. With his demo tapes, he had attracted attention from Øystein Aarseth of Mayhem, who had just recently formed Deathlike Silence Productions. Aarseth then signed Burzum to the label, and shortly after, Burzum began to record for his self-titled debut album. According to Vikernes' autobiography on his website, he had intended to record the album in the worst recording quality possible (due to this being a typical trademark of the early Norwegian black metal scene), though still make it sound acceptable. Burzum's eponymous debut album was released in 1992, being one of the first albums released on Deathlike Silence Productions. The song "War" from this album had a guest appearance from Euronymous of Mayhem, playing a guitar solo "just for fun", according to Vikernes.

Vikernes has stated that he had never played any live shows with Burzum, though at one point was interested in it so Samoth of Emperor joined the band as their bassist though only appeared on the "Aske" EP. Additionally, Erik Lancelot was hired to be the band's drummer, though did not record on any Burzum material, and along with Samoth did not play a live show. Vikernes had by then lost his interest in playing live concerts, and stated that he "didn't even need session musicians anymore". Therefore, Samoth and Lancelot had parted ways with Burzum. Burzum stayed as a solo project until 1993, when Vikernes was arrested for the murder of Euronymous and the burnings of several churches in Norway. "Det som engang var" was released as Burzum's second album in 1993, recorded in 1992, and was the first of the remaining albums to be released during his incarceration.

During Vikernes' imprisonment (1993–present)

Currently, Vikernes is in prison for the murder of former bandmate Euronymous as well as the arson of several churches in Norway. During his time in prison, Vikernes has recorded two albums in a dark ambient style. They were released as "Dauði baldrs" (1997) and "Hliðskjálf" (1999).

In 2003 during a week long release from prison, he failed to return to the prison in the preordained time. Some days later, he was found riding in a stolen Volvo which contained an unloaded AG3 automatic rifle, a handgun, numerous large knives, a gas mask, camouflage clothing, a laptop, a compass, a GPS, various maps, and a fake passport. Thirteen months were added to his sentence as a result. [cite web | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article655724.ece | title=Police nab 'The Count' after he fled jail | last = Berglund | first = Nina | publisher = "Aftenposten" | language = English | date=2003-10-27 | accessdate = 2008-01-26] [cite web | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article656646.ece | title = Arrested 'Count' was heavily armed | last = Berglund | first = Nina | publisher = "Aftenposten" | language = English | date = 2003-10-28 | accessdate = 2008-01-26]

Discography

tudio albums

*"Burzum" (1992), Deathlike Silence
*"Det som engang var" (1993), Cymophane
*"Hvis lyset tar oss" (1994), Misanthropy
*"Filosofem" (1996), Misanthropy
*"Dauði Baldrs" (1997), Misanthropy
*"Hliðskjálf" (1999), Misanthropy

EPs

*"Aske" (1993), Deathlike Silence

Demos/promos

*"Burzum (Demo I)" (1991)
*"Burzum (Demo II)" (1991)
*"Burzum (Promo)" (1992)

Compilation albums

*"Burzum / Aske" (1995), Misanthropy
*"1992-1997" (1998), Hammerheart
*"Anthology" (2002), Cymophane
*"Draugen" (2005), Misanthropy
*"Lord of Darkness Anthology" (2008)

Other appearances

*"Presumed Guilty" (1998), Misanthropy (contributed "Et hvitt lys over skogen")
*sountrack to "Gummo" (1998), Domino Recording Co. (contributed "Rundtgåing Av Den Transcendentale Egenbetens Støtte")
*"Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal" (2004), Peaceville (contributed "Ea, Lord of the Deeps")

Tributes to Burzum

*"" (2002)
*"A Man, A Band, A Symbol" (2003)
*"Wotan Mit Uns!" (2003), Ancient Beliefs
*"The Tribute" (2005)
*"" (2005)
*"Burzum Tribute Attakk" (2005)
*"Triumph und Wille" (2006)
*"Lost Freedom" (2007)
*"" (2008)

Members

Current members

*Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes) – vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, synthesizers (1991–present)

Former members

*Samoth (Tomas Haugen) – bass guitar on "Aske" (1992)
*Euronymous (Øystein Aarseth) – guitar solo on "War" from "Burzum" (1992)
*AiwarikiaR (Erik Lancelot) – drums (never recorded, but was in the band for a short time, in an attempt to transform Burzum into a live band. After a few weeks of rehearsals, Vikernes regretted the idea and abandoned it before ever actually performing live. This occurred after the release of the "Aske" EP).Fact|date=May 2008

Notes

External links

* [http://www.Burzum.org/eng/news.shtml/ Official website]