Burzum - The Fallen (2011)

[Stormwatch]

Really? I think that the material now is a very natural progression. It doesn't sound forced in any way.

I agree.
I went on a break in the highlands of Scotland last March and walked my dog in the forest listening to Belus. It's a great album, especially in a setting like this, which is where we stayed:

We'll be going away again this March, it'd be cool to do the same again with the new album. If my 17 year old dog is up it.

 

[wandering_taco]

Word on the street is the album leaked today if anyone cares to go asearching for it.

 

[scytheavatar]

Yes, it has been leaked. Be warned that it's very different from anything they had done, and there's wayyyyyyyyyy too much clean vocals in it.

 

[-CC-]

While it's too early for me to say based on the samples, I definitely don't hear much Hvis Lyset Tar Oss in this new album.

 

[Hubster]

FYI Byelobog Productions now has an official site:

http://byelobog-productions.burzum.org/

 

[The Butt]

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU. I need to get the wireless on my phone working because I am giddier than a fucking schoolgirl to hear these samples. Posting from my phone blows tbh.

 

[gundamterran]

Best since Hvis Lyset Tar Oss for me. Really great songs, but its much different then anything he has done before. There are parts where it reminds me of Det Som Engang Var to me, but the main sound is a natural progression from Belus, and be prepared for a lot of clean vocals.

 

[The Butt]

Hows the production sounding?

 

[gundamterran]

The production is typical Burzum fare. It's an improvement over Belus, but it still has the whole Burzum rawness to it.

 

[The Butt]

Tbh I ADORED Belus' production. Was muffled, but still really nice. But hearing that Fallen still has the "Burzum rawness" is making me even giddier.

 

[Stormwatch]

Any electronic songs on it?

 

[Hubster]

Best since Hvis Lyset Tar Oss for me. Really great songs, but its much different then anything he has done before. There are parts where it reminds me of Det Som Engang Var to me, but the main sound is a natural progression from Belus, and be prepared for a lot of clean vocals.

Agreed 100%.

Okay here's my spill on it so far. Sorry if I get carried away, I like writing.

The production is cleaner than we're used to, but it has a wonderful rawness at the same time. The drums are low in the mix, exactly where they should be, as is the bass. Guitars are layered, three to four times, as we expect from him. Some excellent counterpoint in his guitar work.

The harsh vocal production is too organic though, it is clear, and high in the mix. This highlights how weak his harsh vocal style has become. Using a worse vocal production would have provided more benefit. To counterbalance, he's used more clean vocals, and while Vikernes is no great singer, it works perfectly and expresses an excellent sense of heathenism, almost tribalism. It is almost chant-like at times.

The riffs and chord progressions are CLASSIC Vikernes, quite possibly some of the best sounding since Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. Belus, as brilliant as some of its moments were, seems like a warmup in comparison. This assists to prove how untouchable his true talent really is: he has remained consistent with his style, which in itself distances even further away from all the Burzum clones we've seen since c1997, and also proves that no one truly understands how his musical mind works.

While pulling elements from Burzum, Det Som Engang Var, there is also a great deal of growth on this album which sounds entirely natural and does not tarnish the Burzum legacy in any way. In some senses, you can almost hear that this direction in 2011 would be taken back on the first three albums.

When you consider now, with Fallen, that this truly reflects on his working abilities in 2011, post-prison, post-arsons, post-HIATUS, it is remarkable that he can produce work of this calibre, of this standard.

Sublime.

 

[Onder]

Ugh. Well.

Maybe this is the point w/ metal artists getting older. The use of clean vocals and that mellower approach. See Tom Warrior on Monotheist or Triptykon, I have a hard time characterising as something other than just metal. Yet he was at the birth of all those extreme subgenres.

I'm currently at the second song and at times it's almost heavymetallish. I like it though as it's very organic, both the two choruses I heard so far are an example of major harmonics which is kinda unusual for Burzum or for any blackmetal but it kinda works well done by him being chanting etc.

EDIT: Also it reminds me of some czech heavymetal song and I'm pretty sure other people will recognize different stuff in it.

I will have to get into it big time, it took me quite long with Belus.

 

[Hubster]

Valen (Fallen) is this album's Glemselens Elv. Except heavier and more hypnotic. OMFG this is sooooo good.

I'm currently at the second song and at times it's almost heavymetallish...

I will have to get into it big time, it took me quite long with Belus.

Yes agreed. However, I think this aligns exactly with the first two works, as they were more heavy metal as well. Hence the Venom/Bathory, early Sodom and even Motorhead influences of the early second wave. Imo "Fallen" goes right back to that period. It's great.

I've had the album on repeat for about 3 hours now. This is just fantastic.

 

[IntoPhagist]

Yay! I didn't see the leak til now. Gonna listen before I pass out.

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

Ugh. Well.

Maybe this is the point w/ metal artists getting older. The use of clean vocals and that mellower approach.

As a counter, I don't believe it has to do specifically with the aging of the person as it does the aging of the person's mentality. When both of the dudes in question were young, I get the feeling they were much more full of anger, hatred and rage. Now, I get the feeling, similarly, that they're probably tired of a lot of things. They got their rage out and now I think they're probably sick of fighting and more about becoming aware of their own plight and transforming that into a kind of more objective view of suffering and triumph.

That's how I felt when I saw Tom play live with Triptykon, anyway...I get the feeling a similar thing happened with Varg. They've both been through some shit.

 

[Hubster]

As a counter, I don't believe it has to do specifically with the aging of the person as it does the aging of the person's mentality. When both of the dudes in question were young, I get the feeling they were much more full of anger, hatred and rage. Now, I get the feeling, similarly, that they're probably tired of a lot of things. They got their rage out and now I think they're probably sick of fighting and more about becoming aware of their own plight and transforming that into a kind of more objective view of suffering and triumph.

That's how I felt when I saw Tom play live with Triptykon, anyway...I get the feeling a similar thing happened with Varg. They've both been through some shit.

Well said, I think you're right on the dot there.

 

[JontRevolting]

Has this already leeked...Soulseek?

 

[Blind Guardian]

I was expecting (and hoping for) this to be dark like much of the material on the first album, but it's not. I can't say I enjoy all those long repetitious string thrashing sections very much at all, it feels too formulaic and predictable.

 

[JontRevolting]

Yeah this...is precisely why i have'nt rated Burzum since 'Aske'.