Burzum is one of the most widely known black metal artists known for being one of the most extreme individuals that took the black metal ideology and made it real. The story behind the infamous acts have been widely discussed and analyzed from every possible angle but this coming year, Burzum is risen again with a new album and new energy.
Belus, set to be released on March 8, 2010 via Byelobog Productions, is the seventh full length album that not only displays a more evolved side to the one man project but also progression in sound. Many actually wondered, even questioned, what will be the approach to this album, will it be ambient like the previous two albums or a more metal approach, and when the photos of Varg Vikernes at the computer with a guitar, many now were intrigued to hear what the man who wrote what many called the greatest black metal song ever would produce.
So what Belus represents is almost a continuation of Filosofem, sound wise, and reminds me of what Mayhem did in Grand Declaration of War by starting the album with the final riff from Wolfs Lair Abyss. The song Belus død (Belus Death) has almost the exact same structure and riffs from Jesu død (Jesus death). This is not to say that the song isnt its own entity but in a way a reference to the older album.
The following track, Glemselens Elv, is a sign of true progression for Varg because this track has a more melodic approach and even has a clean chant vocal. This is a welcome departure from the pure screeching vocal and actually adds a new elemental approach to the sound that Burzum is now attempting to present. The must affective track that features a clean vocal/chant approach is Kaimadalthas Nedstigning which has a chorus that is actually catchy and very memorable, something that could not be said for much of Burzums older material.
The closing track, Belus Tilbakekomst (Konklusjon) is a 9:10 opus that is hypnotic from the beginning till the final strum of the chord. It slowly builds and builds until there reaches this final moment of bright noise to go back to a slow fade to close the album. It is safe to say that Belus is Vargs most creative piece of work to date and, although not groundbreaking, a refreshing reminder of where the style of music came from. In the scene, many black metal acts take what bands like Burzum have laid out and sped it up by 10 and added an bevy of orchestration. The core of the style almost seems non-existent but many bands are starting to slow down and go back to what made the style so great and imaginative, the core is presented in Belus.
(For audio samples go to http://obscurehaven.com/distorted_notes/2010/02/22/burzum-belus/)
