Artist: BORKNAGAR
Album: ORIGIN (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

A band consistently inconsistent, Norway’s BORKNAGAR have created an acoustic based album that is heavily folk-influenced and classically inspired. Main songwriter Oystein G. Brun has always started writing the band’s avant-garde, progressive post black metal music acoustically, and by remaining acoustic this album retains an organic feeling.

From the opening woodwinds and melodic string arrangements, to the multi-layered vocal harmonies the album is burgeoning with ideas. Reading more like naturalist poetry or philosophy, the band takes turns lyrically describing the universe and our place in it in an erudite and eloquent fashion. The album addresses the universe and its founding, man and his beginnings, and nature and our unnatural actions that keep us locked in an internal struggle. Constantly redefining himself, BORKNAGAR mainman/guitarist Oystein G. Brun has broken ground with every release since their self-titled first release a decade ago.

Black metal’s royalty have handled vocal duties in the past: Beginning with Garm (Arcturus, Ulver), over to Simen Hestnжs aka ICS Vortex (Dimmu Borgir, Arcturus), then the mantle passed in 2001 to Swedish vocalist Vintersorg (Vintersorg, Fission), whose gifted use of melodic and harmonic experimentation, coupled with a multitude of vocal styles set the tone for the sonic cacophony of “Origin”. Drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect, Ihsahn) heightens the flowing rhythmic river with his artistic accentuated timekeeping and keyboardist Lars A. Nedland (Solefald, Age Of Silence) provides a complimenting myriad of atmospheric soundscapes and harmonic interludes. Returning as guest musician on “Origin” is bassist Tyr (Emperor, Satyricon), who sat out 2004’s “Epic”.

Successfully creating a concentrated yet clear sound at Norway’s Toproom Studios (Mayhem, Tristania) on their last three albums, the band returned to record guitars and later mix with Co-producer Borge Finstad, while previously utilizing several other recording studios: the band captured vocals, violin, cello, drums and percussion at Multimono, bass at Low and Below Studio and flute - recorded by Norwegian flute-icon Steinar Ofsdal - at Musikk & Mystikk.
Eight new songs and “Oceans Rise” from 1998’s “The Archaic Course” (reworked) are contained herein and should leave all followers of the relentless BORKNAGAR style-evolution throughout the years as well as fans of bands like Opeth, Ulver or Green Carnation, who have released conceptually similar albums, satisfied and longing for more. Experience creation: “Origin”.

TRACKLIST:

1. Earth Imagery (4:52)
2. Grains (3:42)
3. Oceans Rise (6:05)
4. Signs (1:17)
5. White (4:45)
6. Cynosure (2:55)
7. The Human Nature (4:48)
8. Acclimation (4:30)
9. The Spirit of Nature (3:00)

LINE-UP:

Vintersorg - Vocals
Oystein G. Brun - Guitar
Lars A. Nedland - Synths and Samplers
Asgeir Mickelson - Bass & Drums