Burzum/Aske

Burzum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 10, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Plastic Head
• ASIN: B000025SJ8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #83 in Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Norway

Editorial Reviews

Burzum's earliest recordings dating to 1992, 1993 and respectively. Full-length album Burzum with the mini-album Aske evokes the simplistic darkness that would later become the band's mark. Emperor guitarist Samoth appears on songs "Stemmen Fra Taarnet" and "Dominus Sathanas." Mayhem's Euronymous appears on "War."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Black Metal Fury, December 17, 2004

By 

Tom Z "Crucible Of Steel" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burzum/Aske (Audio CD)

If you read the reviews on Amazon you'll notice many people will exaggerate the merits of an album, perhaps even myself occasionaly. However, I make this statement with full conviction: This is one of the most intense records ever made. Not in terms of volume or speed but of sheer, brutal intensity. Varg is by far the most disturbing vocalist and I've ever heard and maybe the best black metal vocalist ever. The instruments are minimal and raw, you won't find any ultra technical drumming or fancy riffing here, yet it is brutal in it's simplicity. Besides less stuff going on in the background leaves more room for Vargs ungodly growls and that isn't a bad thing. I guess this album isn't for everyone. If you have to have your black metal perfectly produced and laden with keyboards, solos, etc. this isn't for you. And some people can't see past the things Varg has done or said. I don't agree with everything he has said or done but this is a review about the music, not the man. Buy this today if you think you can handle it.

50 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful..., August 8, 2003

By 

Timothy R. Ellis (ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burzum/Aske (Audio CD)

If listened to with the right pair of ears, Burzum's music is very rewarding.

A warning to all metalheads out there: Burzum's music shows almost no merit in the areas of musicianship, songwriting or production. The guitar riffs aren't very technical or original, the song structure is pretty basic and it sounds like it was recorded with a dixie cup and a string attached to a phonograph. Hell, the lyrics aren't even all that good...but these minute details didn't fray the listening experience I had. This is absolute brilliance in musical self-expression.

Some music is sad (Anathema, later Opeth), much is upbeat, other bands try too hard to be shocking or scary, but the one feeling i've never had listening to music is absolute _dread_, and that's exactly what feeling Varg's screams and painful dirges inflict in me. Like i said, it's not technical or very original at all, but something about the way Varg performs his music makes it very appealing to me. He has an AMAZING and authentic black metal voice. I swear when you hear this guy shrieking, it sounds like they've been delivered from the deepest bowels of hell. I think the only way i could scream with such earnest pain and terror is if i was being sodomized with a barbed soldering iron.

The riffs and lyrics aren't _terrible_, but with Varg's delivery, it definitely gets the point across. The bad production actually adds a little charm to the music, similar to punk rock. The bad recording indicates that Varg only cared about writing the songs and performing the best he could with the budget he had, and adds a dark, ethereal atmosphere to the music.

Almost all of us metalheads are pretty open-minded about music in general, but unfortunately Burzum would just not be well-received by most of the underground metal community. Listen intently to some samples, or download some mp3's before buying.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Furious, angry, dirty and gritty, March 8, 2006

By 

John "Ira" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burzum/Aske (Audio CD)

All perfect terms to describe this album. Burzum's first album (plus Aske ep) would be the type of things many BM bands (many in the US) would later try and copy, However, here is the originial! Varg, has to be one of the greatest BM vocals ever, up there with Ihsahn, Nocturno Culto and Daemon. Sometimes, with "grim" Black Metal, the lyrics can seem forced and cliche, exspecially depending on the vocal delivery of the vocalist. However, with his vocals, he could be singing nursery rhymes and he could still convince you. The guitars, not too hard (never said it had to be the hardest thing to play to be great.) the same story for everything else. Easy t o play or not, the must is still great in my opinion and this is one of the 20 most mandatory Black Metal albums ever recorded. You can just feel the pain and suffering in this album. You almost feel dirty after listening to this. To touch on another subject many others have, yes I think Varg has now become a childish, racist neo-nazi jackass, not to mention a murderer. All of that pushed to the side though, this is still a classic album and influenced many many bands within the genre.


1. Feeble Screams From Forests Unknown (7:28) The cd starts with about two seconds of filthy keyboard notes before going full blast into one of the best songs here. With a simple yet memorable guitar riff going through most of the song, then once Varg kicks in on vocals the song goes to another planet. Great way to kick off an album. 5/5

2. Ea, Lord of the Depths (4:52) "The Head is a Head of a Serpent
From its Nostrils Mucus Trickles...
The Ears Are those of a Basilisk
His Horns Are Twisted into three Curls
The Body is a Sun Fish, Full of Stars
The Base of His Feet Are Claws
His Name Is Sassu Wunnu
A Sea Monster. A Form of Ea"

With lyrics like that, you know you're in for a cold song. This song is spell binding and not one to soon be forgotten. 4.5/5

3. Black Spell of Destruction (5:39) Starts out pretty slow and mellow for a Burzum song, right before the drums kick in a little faster. Then it settles again into a single guitar riff before retuning back to the style played in the intro. Which makes varg's voice all the more haunting. 5/5

4. Channeling the Powers of Souls into a New God (3:27) An almost "beautiful" electronic interlude. Worth giving a few listens, repetitive though.

5. War (2:50) DOn't et the prior song lull you into a sense of security because the next song is like an audio stab to the neck. With the most memorable guitar work on the album, you feel as if you're going to War! The best here. 10/5

6. The Crying Orc (0:58) I'm dissapointed this is only an interlude because the guitar riff used in it was quite good and could have been made into a majestic song. 4/5

7. My Journey to the Stars (8:10) If grim BM isn't your thing this song is going to infuriate you. long and repetitive are good ways to describe this one.The guitar riff is impressive and so is everything in general. One of the best songs here. Mandatory listening here. 5/5

8. Dungeons of Darkness (4:52) Another interlude, stupid and pointless ?/?

9. Stemmen Fra Taarnet (6:09) Well, this song has alot of f*cking attitude! I'll tell you that much. COming in with an almost "grim" punk influenced riff. A really simple song, still good though. Just not the strongest song here. 4/5

10. Dominus Sathans (3:04) Starts out with an eerie and creepy riff. Some strange and low gibberish begins before a classic Varg screech ins unleashed upon your ears. Then the riff g oes on ti'll the song plays out which is pretty pointless. ?/?

11. A LostForgotten Sad Spirit (10:52) Second best here and a classic Burzum track. Longest song on the album. A feeling of being lonely is foundsomewhere between the gritt and filth of this song. 5/5

So, to end this. If you love this style of Black Metal, or want to give it a taste, this is a great place to look. Enjoy.