Customer Reviews

Universal

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After releasing the mostly acoustic (and completely excellent) Origin in 2006, I was curious as to where Borknagar was going to take their innovative brand of progressive black metal next. After making fans wait nearly four years, the Norwegian band is finally back with their eighth studio album, titled Universal.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from Universal, but my initial reaction is that it was a step backwards to the sound of the Epic and Empiricism albums. That's not a bad thing. I mean, those albums are awesome after all. It's just that Borknagar took a huge leap forward with Origin and Universal doesn't seem to acknowledge that. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Universal is a very good album, and one that continues to find the right balance between black and progressive metal sounds. It has atmosphere and real energy, some amazing musicianship, and the reliably exceptional vocals - clean (with additional harmonizing) as well as screamed - by Vintersorg. Some of the melodies, progressive aspects and organ sounds remind me of recent Opeth albums, but for the most part what I'm hearing is exactly what I heard half a decade ago when Epic came out.

It may not be breaking any new ground, but an "average" Borknagar album is still going to be better than most bands' best work. If you're a Borknagar fan, particularly of their Epic sound, you're probably going to love Universal. I think it makes for a pretty good introduction to the band for newcomers as well.

I am proud to announce that Borknagar has returned to form. After a complete departure from black metal coming in the form of the band's last album Origin, the furious and melodious onslaught we normally associate with this Norwegian black metal titan is again present on Universal. Like Epic and Empiricism, the progressive elements in this record perfectly compliment Borknagar's melodic black metal approach, which unlike that of many of their countrymen is rare in black metal - and particularly in the ferocious Norwegian brand.

This is not to say that Universal is just a rehashing of the band's old ideas - far from it in fact. Some of the experimentation and multi-instrument layering Borknagar played with on Origin is present, most notably towards the end of the song Stir of Seasons, which flows into For A Thousand Years To Come, both of which feature non traditional black metal instruments: the flute, the violin, and even some piano. There's even a fret-less bass solo in middle of For A Thousand Years. So perfect is the composition that you won't notice these as out of place at all. In fact, I can't really pick a favorite just yet - give me another couple months.

Despite the fact that the year is only two months old, I'd venture to say that this album will be among the very best black metal albums of 2010.

I am going to make this very short. If you are a progressive metal or avant garde black metal fan, then this is a Must. Their best and most polished album to date.

This album joins Ihsahn's "After" and Danzig's "Deth Red Sabaoth" as the highlights of 2010 in my opinions!

Excellent musicianship and amazing vocal arrangements (I believe that Borknagar have hands down the greatest vocal arrangements since Queen and The Beatles before them!, a great new drummer who fills Asgeir Mickelsen's shoes perfectly, what's not to like about this album?

I really do like that they put Lar's Nedlund's vocals more out front than on past albums. He meshes wonderfully with Vintersorg.

Great album!

Progressive Black Metal! What an impressively intricate album. Borknagar return to form with Universal! This album will give many quality listens to fans.

Borknagar is back with a new album. they still have the hard and soft textures, and the clean and raspy voices. Borknagar proves that black metal does not have to be about Satan and have negative outlooks on Christianity. their songs are about Earth. they have a new drummer in the fold, David Kincade, and he sounds as competent as other drummers for the band. I like how the songs on this CD start out slow and often have other textures as well. song no. 3, entitled "The Stir of Seasons", has flute compositions as well. in short, these guys are multicultural, which is often a rarity in metal. I give this album 5 stars.