Borknagar - "Winter Thrice" (Album Review)

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/01/2016

Label: Century Media Records

‘Winter Thrice’ CD//LP//DD track listing:

1. The Rhymes Of The Mountain

2. Winter Thrice

3. Cold Runs The River

4. Panorama

5. When Chaos Calls

6. Erodent

7. Noctilucent

8. Terminus

Even though ‘Winter Thrice’ is firmly rooted in the present sound, I’d strongly argue that this is the best iteration of their established prog rock-obsessed extreme metal sound to date. The songwriting is the strongest it’s been since ‘Empiricism’, and the album sounds absolutely fantastic from a production standpoint. Vintersorg should also be commended for turning in his best vocal performance to date, which comes from someone who has been a diehard ICS Vortex devotee when it comes to Borknagar’s vocalists. It helps that the music behind him lends itself to his strengths, driven by big, ringing chords and some delicious guitar leads.

Borknagar is:

Andreas “Vintersorg” Hedlund | Vocals

Øystein Garnes Brun | Guitars

Lars “Lazare” Nedland | Keyboard, Backing vocals

Jens F. Ryland | Guitars

ICS Vortex | Bass & Vocals

Baard Kolstad | Drums

The Review:

It may not be this way for everyone, but in my mind there’s a clear line that divides Borknagar’s early sound from the sound they’ve cultivated and fine-tuned over the last 15 years. Beginning with ‘Empiricism’ in 2001, the band began focusing a lot more on the progressive elements that had started to creep into their style on “The Archaic Course’, a creative choice that first truly took shape with the arrival of vocalist Vintersorg around that same time.

At the time, the move made a ton of sense as Vintersorg’s own project was on a very similar trajectory, having started as a folk-influenced black metal project and had gotten more and more progressive as the nineties wore on. For what the musical goal was, Vintersorg was an ideal fit, and ‘Empiricism’ remains a favorite among the band’s fanbase. Leading up to their new album, ‘Winter Thrice’, the band has largely tried to find new ways to explore a similar formula to that of ‘Empiricism’, with mixed results. In my mind, the more a Borknagar album flirts with their nineties sound, the better it is, which may not be the case for everyone reading this.

‘Winter Thrice’ is probably about as close to that older sound as we’re ever going to get, which is to say it’s still only about a third of the way there. The bulk of the album is still made up of songs that should sound vaguely familiar to anyone who’s heard either ‘Universal’ or ‘Urd’ over the last five years. You might have been lead to believe—thanks to Garm’s vocal appearance on “Winter Thrice” and “Terminus”—that the band would be leaning more heavily on the past, and that might be by design. But, while there certainly are larger strides in that direction, your enjoyment of this album will most likely be predicated on how you’ve felt about their recent output.

Even though ‘Winter Thrice’ is firmly rooted in the present sound, I’d strongly argue that this is the best iteration of their established prog rock-obsessed extreme metal sound to date. The songwriting is the strongest it’s been since ‘Empiricism’, and the album sounds absolutely fantastic from a production standpoint. Vintersorg should also be commended for turning in his best vocal performance to date, which comes from someone who has been a diehard ICS Vortex devotee when it comes to Borknagar’s vocalists. It helps that the music behind him lends itself to his strengths, driven by big, ringing chords and some delicious guitar leads.

So, while old fucks like me might have wanted a real trip back to ‘The Olden Domain’, it’s tough to argue that Borknagar aren’t putting out some really strong material in 2016. ‘Winter Thrice’ sees Borknagar at their best in fifteen years, with enough of a nod to the past to make me want to wax nostalgic about “the good old days”, while managing to prove that their current style can be moulded into something that appeals to the old guard. As critical as I’ve been of the band in recent years, they’ve made me a believer here.

“Winter Thrice” is available digitally here and on CD/LP copy here. 

FFO: Enslaved, Arcturus, Ihsahn, Vintersorg

Band info: Facebook | Official | twitter

"A Year in Review": Black Metal's "Sonic 6" for 2015

By:  Aaron Pickford

As part of our review of 2015, over the coming days, I will present the definitive “Sour 16” for 2015 and this will be generated by looking at all releases throughout the year, however I thought it would also be cool to look at specific genres too and whilst I would have loved to have generated a “Sour 16” for each popular genre at The Sludgelord, that would have taken up an inexplicable amount of time. Of course we all gravitate to a favourite genre, however each has its own merit, therefore I thought it would be a good idea to highlight, “six of the best” releases of 2015 within our most popular genres.  So today, as we reflect upon an awesome year of music in 2015, we present Black Metal’s “Sonic 6” for 2015

The Sludgelord’s ‘Sonic 6’ for 2015 is compiled based upon page views alone and calibrated into the list below, we will be presenting further lists during the lead up to Christmas, but for today roll up, kick back and Hail the riff!  Check out Black Metal’s “Sonic 6” for 2015 (full reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and total views since the date of publication are highlight in red). 

6). Imperial Triumphant - “Abysmal Gods” (562)

Certainly Imperial Triumphant share a stratosphere with the Gorguts, Artificial Brains, Pyrrhons and Deathspell Omegas of this universe, but this is a different breed of genius. There’s a sickness, a mentally “unwell” aspect to ‘Abyssal Gods’ that you simply cannot find anywhere else. The jangling, out of tune ragtime break early on in “Opposing Holiness”. The hallucinogenic guitar solos in “Black Psychedelia”. It all points to an album no one should miss out on, although you’re likely to come out the other end of it a worse person, or at least in a worse mood.

5). Arcturus – “Arcturian” (614)

The number of influences on this record is immense. Traces of classical, polka, noir, fusion, black metal, power metal, and many more can all be found on this album. Vocally, among the peppered black metal roots, there are traces of middle eastern scales, clean harmonies, and several other influences including Tool as one of the more obvious. The harmonies alone seem to come at the listener from all directions, adding to the intense psychedelic atmosphere.

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4). Kjeld – “Skym” (737)

If you should listen to just one Black metal record of the year this could be the one because this is another Dutch fist in the face of God!

3). Enslaved – “In Times” (941)

Everyone has “their” Enslaved album and that runs a wide spectrum of possibilities because Enslaved have been excellent in a number of different ways. ‘In Times’ is just another example of Enslaved finding a new energy and turning that energy into something beautiful.

2). Drudkh – “A Furrow Cut Short” (1064)

‘A Furrow Cut Short’ is undoubtedly up there with ‘Autumn Aurora’ and ‘Blood in our Wells’; albums that are possibly the best to have emerged from the newer wave of ‘atmospheric’ black metal. Nothing is more satisfying than when one of your favourite bands releases potentially the best album of their career over ten years on. So clear a spot at the top of your album of the year list because ‘A Furrow Cut Short’ is it.

1). Marduk – Frontschwein (1428)

This black metal of the highest quality and of the most palatable type to a casual fan such as myself, all elements are present and correct with the band on great form. Looking for something to compound your winter blues? Look no further.

Reviews featured in this article were written by: Daniel Jackson, Joel Willis, Sven-Ake Alveving, Heather Blewett, Richard Maw

The Sludgelord Sour 16 for May 2015

Welcome to The Sludgelord’s Sour 16. Each month, you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal, but predominately the best the doom, sludge, stoner-psychedelic genres have to offer.

Is it chart? Not really.  It is merely the 16 records you guys have been most interested in over the last month and you have been checking out on this very page.

Our idea for this thing was to turn the power over to you guys, yes it would be easy for us to choose our favourite records of the months, however it is you the reader, the fans that support these bands, buy their records and attend their shows.  So here is the The Sludgelord Sour 16 for May 2015, the 16 records you’re most looking forward too or are currently checking out.  Check em out, spread the word and perhaps revisit some records you may have overlooked.  

The results are compiled based on page views alone and calibrated into the list below. So without further ado, this is the Sour 16. So until next month, roll up, kick back, chug a beer and Hail the riff! All review links, are held under the artwork.   

16) =    Space Metal – ‘Space Metal’ (260)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/space-metal-st-album-review.html

The Exploding Eyes Orchestra – ‘I’

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-exploding-eyes-orchestra-i-album.html

14).      Ten Foot Wizard – Sleeping ‘Volcano’ (279)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/ten-foot-wizard-sleeping-volcanoes.html

13) =    Feral - ‘Where Dead Dreams Dwell’ (280)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/feral-where-dead-dreams-dwell-album.html

Weedeater – ‘Goliathan’

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/weedeater-goliathan-album-review.html

11).      Galvano – ‘Trail of the Serpents’ (318)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/galvano-trail-of-serpent-album-review.html

10).      Demon Head – ‘Ride the Wilderness’ (326)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/demon-head-ride-wilderness-album-review.html

9).        Obsequiae – ‘Aria of Tombs’ (329)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/obsequiae-aria-of-vernal-tombs-album.html

8).        Arcturus – ‘Arcturian’ (378)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/arcturus-arcturian-album-review.html

7).        Demon Eye – ‘Tempora Infernalia’ (409)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/demon-eye-tempora-infernalia.html

6).        Cult Leader – ‘Useless Animal’ (421)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/cult-leader-uselss-animal-ep-review.html

5).        Sun & Sail Club – ‘The Great White Dope’ (454)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/sun-and-sail-club-great-white-dope.html

4).        Entrails – ‘Obliteration’ (478)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/entrails-obliteraton-album-review.html

3).        Mutoid Man – ‘Bleeder’ (672)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/mutoid-man-bleeder-album-review.html

2).        My Sleeping Karma – ‘Muksha’ (758)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-sleeping-karma-moksha-album-review.html

1).        Paradise Lost – ‘The Plague Within’ (1322)

Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2015/05/paradise-lost-plague-within-album-review.html

Arcturus - Arcturian (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 11/05/2015

Label: Prophecy

‘Arcturian’ CD//DD//LP track Listing:

1). The Arcturian Sign

2). Crashland

3). Angst

4). Warp

5). Game Over

6). Demon

7). Pale

8). The Journey

9). Archer

10). Bane

Arcturus is:

Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs | VOCALS
Steinar "Sverd" Johnsen | KEYBOARDS
Knut Magne Valle | GUITAR
Hugh "Skoll" Mingay | BASS
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg | DRUMS    

Review:

Arcturus, spawned in 1987 and known early on as a black metal supergroup (Vortex of Dimmu Borgir, Borknagar, Lamented Souls – Hellhammer of Mayhem, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir – Garm of Ulver, Borknagar – and Samoth of Satyricon, Mayhem, Zyklon-B, Emperor, Burzum) Arcturus has had many lineup changes over the years due to members being active with other projects, and eventually broke up in 2007. Luckily this surreal act reunited in 2011 to play a handful of shows and festivals and went on to record the album at hand.

‘Arcturian’ the fifth studio album by the Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus, is by far THE most original album I've ever heard. This is common place for Arcturus, as they have always incorporated as many different elements as possible in their music. Released on May 11 2015, this is their first album in a decade and I hope it’s not their last.

The number of influences on this record is immense. Traces of classical, polka, noir, fusion, black metal, power metal, and many more can all be found on this album. Vocally, among the peppered black metal roots, there are traces of middle eastern scales, clean harmonies, and several other influences including TOOL as one of the more obvious. The harmonies alone seem to come at the listener from all directions, adding to the intense psychedelic atmosphere. The guitar work is very intricate yet not too forward in the mix, which blends quite well with the orchestra. The drums are as technical as they are groovy, showcasing lightning speed and well placed articulation as well as strange syncopated rhythms, and even some fusion jazz. There are also very noticeable electronic elements...not quite on the dubstep side...but also not too far off. On ‘The Journey’, you can hear these elements mixed in with some acoustic guitar work and orchestral textures that create a truly surreal setting.

For the open minded listener, this would be a great addition to your music catalog. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but after listening all the way through it really surprised me. Putting this album on is like taking 10 hits of LSD (Trust me, I've been there) and will certainly leave you feeling strange and uncertain of what you just experienced. Whether that’s good or bad is up to you. With such a range of influences and complete disregard for boundaries from one song to the next, there should be at least one song that speaks to all types of metal heads.

Words by: Joel Wallis

‘Arcturian’ is available here

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/arcturusnorway