What do you think of Burzum? 🕷

He's not using a vocal filter btw, he specifically asked the studio owner for the shittiest microphone he had, so he gave him cheap office desk headphones to yell through.

Masterpiece of an album, Spent many nights falling asleep to it.

Say what you will about Varg Vikernes, but the man is a musical visionary. His work is pivotal in two separate genres, black metal and dungeon synth. He masterfully blended the dark side of ambient and the atmosphere of black metal

he was so ahead of his times that he decided he needed 20 years in prison to allow the others to catch up. Cheers.

"Jesus Død" from the same album is awesome too, although more straightforward in terms of what you'd expect from the genre, even though it's still got that hypnotic repetitiveness running throughout. And the track "Rundgang um die transzendentale Säule der Singularität" you've probably heard elsewhere some time or another. You should REALLY REALLY give that a go while lying in your bed and just let it wash over you :)

kanyes favorite musician, I wonder who's his favorite painter is... (:

Filosofem and Hvis Lyset Tar Oss are two of the best black metal albums of all time.

No guitar amp. was used, instead he just plugued the guitar into is brother's stereo system. For vocals he just used the mic from a headset. Also he was always a fan of electronic music, he used to go to a techno club called Phoenix and just stand in a corner listening to it and get inspiration for his band. About that iconic album cover: The album cover and booklet contain extensive artwork by the Norwegian painter Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914), the front cover is a close-up of his 1900 painting entitled 'Op Under Fjeldet Toner en Lur' (Norwegian for 'Up in the Hills a Clarion Call Rings Out'), which features a woman playing a birch trumpet.

The "filter" was actually just the worst mic they could find in the studio. I believe it was a broken set of headphones.

The reason why the keyboard melody seems ahead of its time and like it could fit on a hip hop track is because hip hop shares a lot of DNA with house/techno/trance music, which Varg was a huge fan of. So-called white label techno was something that he was drawn to for its repetitive, hypnotic effect, which was also part of the goal of the Burzum project. Actually, when hip hop was in its infancy during this time, it was more sample heavy, and a lot of what makes it sound "modern" now was already old for underground sister genres of electronic music.

Varg's control of mood and long form narrative music is pretty much unrivaled in metal. Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, despite how simple it sounds on the surface, is the most sophisticated metal album of all time in my opinion.

The album was recorded under purposefully bad conditions. Varg Vikernes used a set of headphones as a mic to record Filosofem. He wanted a raw sound and he got it... this record is so underrated.

Much of the artwork on Varg Vikernes's albums are works by his favorite Norwegian painter, Theodor Kittelsen. Kittelsen's main themes involved Norwegian folklore. The painting you see here is "Op under Fjeldet toner en Lur", (Up in the Hills a Clarion Call Rings Out), painted in 1900.

This Burzum album really solidified some kind of change in me regarding black metal, in that it really makes apparent to seek all of the hidden melodies under the grime and repetition. And black metal is particularly good at following slow melodic patterns even if they hide it inside the tremolo. Everyone likes black metal for different reasons though, but this is my reason why I'll keep listening to BM music. Live it's always complicated though, it seems it's tricky to get the mix right depending on the venue and where you stand in the venue etc. I would recommend a solid knowledge of the songs when watching BM live, so that you can fill in the gaps in your head if needed.

Lol all the virtue signaling comments pretending this isn't great music cus they don't like the artist personally

Even Varg himself calls this album autistic by looking at your peasants reactions. But in fact its a masterpiece from start to end.

I had a period when I was out in the dark winter nights after work taking care of storm felled trees then I had it on repeat for a few hours. Cut 400 cubic meters that winter alone in the dark and cold...

Not a huge deal but Varg started Burzum before he became a part of Mayhem (which was only for a short time). As far as Varg himself goes, could care less about his beliefs and views, but his music is very simple and chaotic but he’s created masterpieces that only stand as templates for what most current black metal bands try to emulate.

Being a Norwegian metalfan that never was all that into black metal but absolutely love Burzum is a weird experience. The Burzum vs Mayhem thing is still going on to some degree. Mayhem is cool and they were the OGs but damn Burzum really just made it all that much better. Brilliant.

Yeah. Whatever you may think of Varg as a person (in my case, not much) but his musical legacy in both Black Metal and Dungeon Synth is undeniable.

The only problem is that if you are vacuuming you cant tell if your vacuum cleaner is on or if its just the music

Burzum is definitely one of those times where you have to separate the artist from their music. Most people in that scene had/has extreme views and anyone familiar with the scene knows that. He just went further than most with his.

Burzum was always his band, before he played bass on the Mayhem album, and before the murder; Euronymous actually wrote one of the solos, I think in the song Ea, Lord of the Depths. Many would say Burzum is far and away the best. I've communicated occasionally or sporadically with Varg over the years. The old YT channel was good times; they still have the video available here wherein he explains the night of the murder though. Something like, "about a day [night?] in 1993 that changed black metal forever" Pardon the essay, felt like it.

The album is life and death, the regenerative power of nature. It’s in a different genre of it’s own, it’s close to perfection.

Did You Know. Burzum never played Live Shows Not even Concert Shows.

burzum reall is an experience, something you play when your alone or best going to sleep, truly a master at his art, no one sounds like burzum

First 4 Burzum are highly influential and essential in BM

This super simple synth phrase melts your brain into a trance 🖤

Varg is back with new Burzum single Sept 8 2023! - “let’s find out” :)

@imakaiya Varg recorded all the instruments himself. Dude is a legendary musician. Varg was influenced by electronic and EDM, btw. Varg's music is simplistic like EDM. Repetitive simple riffs that create more of an ambient atmosphere than riff salad. The true essence of Black metal in my opinion. Hopefully you'll react to Glemeselen Elv.

Burzum is good music to get in the proper mindframe for doing rituals.

So glad I found your channel, you rock🤘🤘🤘

It was so fun watching you get into Burzum. My reaction to Varg's music was the same. It's enchanting

Great reaction, Kaiya! Burzum: the first 4 LPs and the EP "Aske" (1992 to 1996): masterful! I suggest the reaction, analysis of the following songs from these albums: Feeble Screams from Forests Unknown, Spell of Destruction, Key to the Gate, En ring til aa herske, Lost Wisdom, all tracks from the album "Hvis Lyset tar oss", A Lost Forgotten Sad Spirit (this song is a masterpiece! I recommend this song to be reviewed by you next, Kaiya!), Dunkelheit (there's already been a great reaction from you, Kaiya), Jesu dod, Beholding the Daughters of the Firmament...

Nice:) This album is the definition of atmospheric black metal for me.

randomly finding this channel, that smirk of satisfaction made me subscribe

Burzum is especially unique for its feelings or emotions it brings which conveys essential understanding of black metal. For me this is the closest interpretation of the idea black metal reflects. I listened to it hundreds of times in the forest at night with friends drinking beer around flickering flame of a campfire 🔥. Bright Memories and strong emotions you would value forever.

I will never stop loving Burzum.

I’ve always loved Burzum such an amazing creation!

Still one of the albums I always go back to when I'm in that mental state where I just need the noisy riffs and atmosphere Burzum delivers. Filosofem is one of those albums that you just gotta listen to it and then listen to it again, and again, and again.

More interesting fact is he recorded first four albums within a year. Four different sessions during a year. Four albums that sounded differently. And his band didn’t appeared as a Mayhem fallout. He had this band before and was a guest session bassist on De Mysteriis dom…by Mayhem.

Best ever, nobody over, nobody besides! Thanks for making it travel around miss!

5:49 Gucci mane and Kanye sampled the ambient track on this album

Hail Varg!

Love your shirt/n show! 🤘😎🤘

Varg is the Mozart of black metal!

I like that you closed your eyes and really listened. 🖤 Aera is my personal favorite.

Suddenly... 🔥

Masterpiece

This album gives me goosebumps every time I hear it since 1996. True masterpiece

Kayne did actually sample burzum in the song Pussy Print from Gucci Mane with kanye producing and featured verse, song is from the same album as duklehiet too

Burzum might be my favorite blackmetal material, after Emperor's Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk anyway. Simple and repetitive, but very effective. He does have some songs that are a little more varied though, like Key to the Gate, probably my favorite Burzum track. Compositionally it reminds me of the few times in my life when I totally lost my shit - represented by alternating between riffs bashing out tritones and a more ballsy sounding typical heavymetal riff. Insanity and aggression, short lived, and followed by a daze after the adrenaline runs out - represented by rocking back and fourth between two arpeggios without drumming while the vocals switch from screaming to 'ah's. Then, after the dazed period of shame for acting like an idiot, the logical mind returns and tries to solve the problem - represented by a series of arpeggios moving around the neck of the guitar. It is played through the first time with one ending, but it is not the right solution, so he wipes it away and then plays through again and ends with another idea - and this is revealed to be the correct solution with an "ah ha!" moment - landing on two stacked tritones and sitting there for a bit. Interesting that the interval used to invoke madness in the beginning of the song is now used to describe a solution being found. Then there is a brief "twinkly magical" bit where he is picking an arpeggio in an interesting way, this sounds like rolling the solution around in his head. "Is this right? Have I really discovered the path forward?!" Then the last half of the song is more hopeful sounding, a bit jerky and stilted at first, but becoming more and more like "campfire" or "cowboy" chords with some melody over top, seemingly becoming more and more convicted to this new path forward. The last bit of lyrics are a choked-out "one day..." Goddamn.

My fav quote by varg is “oh no I can’t press the dislike button with my Pinocchio nose” while blindfolded 😂

very good song, the video music is even better, hypnotic

The album artwork is actually a drawing from the famous Norwegian artist Theodor Kittelsen. His most known works are of Norwegian nature, fairy tales and legends. His work actually formed the way we vizualise trolls in Norway. The Norwegian black metal scene naturally grew fond of him, and used him on their album covers.

Love your review of this! One of my go to BM songs, no matter what Varg did.

I have a Dauoi Balders cd from 1997 he released in prison. Dungeon Synth album. Varg only had limited instruments in prison so there is no vocals. Expensive and one of my rare prizes of my collection.

@ around 0:59 he didnt start the band after the fallout, it was before Dead self deleted even. He did play in Mayhem but by that time most of his early stuff was already or fully written and mostly recorded. Also this is the only Album that sounds like this from him. I Prefer his first album and some from his second a bit more but Filosofem is awesome.

The new song sounds amazing

Everytime I hear Burzum I use my lip balm also !

I’m a huge fan of Varg I don’t know much about his music though.

You should listen "Beholding the daughters of the firmament", for me the best of the album

father of black metal is Bathory, check out their Necromancy along with Burzum's War which is a tribute from Varg.

I raelly liked your video on the Satanic Panik. So checked out your vids on Dissection and Burzum. Seems you get it. Subscribed. Oh yeah, and you pronounce Dunkelheit pretty much as you pronounced it, but the u is pronounced as you would oo in english. It is a german title for a norwegian artist.

Atmospheric as fuck

Oh yeah. This is an awesome track.

I wonder if Buzum would get the same attention and acclaim if Varg was not a murderer and church burner. Anyway, Burzum is cool and entertaining to listen to.

Liking the sweater

Burzum Yessss yesss yesss 🥳

suddenly life has new meaning

The atmospheric Black Metal band Lustre has vibes similar to this

Ok now I’m hooked! I love your videos

I think Burzum isn't really divisive at all, the consensus is pretty clear. Musical genius and a guy not to take advise from.

Try listening to his debut album called "Aske"

Find the crappiest somewhat broken equipment and record it in a shitty place like an abandoned gas station bathroom and you'll have the quintessential 90's sound Burzum was going for. Then you have Emperor, who did The Wall Of Sound overproduced don't let the listener have a moment blast them into the wall style sound which is equally what I love about this sub genre. Mayhem walked the line between both styles and still do.

Edda (Snorre) music (Scaldic -Vedism)

The whole mood of Filosofem is so brilliant. Dunkelheit is atmospheric, Jesu Död is amazingly haunting, Erblicket Die Töchter Des Firmaments is so hauntingly beautiful and loneliness enducing. Gebrechlichkeit 1 and 2 i mostly skip but they are okay gives off more S-cide vibes to it. Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Säule Der Singularität is by far the saddest Burzum song ever made because of how Ambient and depressing yet so calming the song is. Filosofem is great while Vikernes views are not great. I am from Sweden, Dalarna. Btw. And it gives me such a nordic vibe.

After Mayhems Fallout 🤣 The band was there the same time as Mayhem. Euronymous signed Burzum, and invited him to play bass, after Necrobutcher left. (You know, the guy that is claiming all the fame now). His bass track was removed after the killing from De mysteriis...

varg is the goofiest racist dude on earth and has the shittiest takes on pretty much everything. how the same mind could come up with Filosofem, let alone Hviss Lyset Tar Oss and Det Som Engang Var, is mindblowing tbh

I don't agree with his worldviews, but I love his music.

Props to the acid bath name drop 🤌👌 still can’t get into burzum though

At my very first listen of this song I couldn't listen till the end. Then got used to the sound and got into the genre.

We don't want a rap/hip hop artist to do anything with it stop mocking black metal

This is so Dark as it Can be 😃

Key to the Gate!

🤘

IMO there were only a few musicians in the scene that shaped the style of TNBM. Varg, Euronymous, and Snore. I believe that these dudes came up with the trademark sound together, that the scene is infamous for. There are certain riffs on Mayhem's opus De Mystiirs, that were written by Snore of the band Thorns that are really some of the most classic examples of the sound. I think Euro actually saw Snore do it first and adopted the style. Snore doesn't get enough credit. But Varg took the idea and incorporated the method in his songs that surpasses Mayhem and Thorns's music. His songs are written almost like a classical piece of music, and he uses his riffs /song writing to convey emotion so well. At times the riffs are very dissonant and sometimes they are triumphantly melodic. In many songs he will add the "spell riff" as he describes, that is supposed to bring you into a dream like hypnotic state. Truly a musical visionary.

Masterpiece! Finally some real black metal on this channel, thank you.

After the "fallout" with Mayhem. 😂

Quorthon and Varg brought in the essences.

i have to push the like button it´s BURZUM 🤘👴🤘and im a young 45yo Metal drummer 🥰

I have to say, you are the cookest chic alive today!!!

its funny you mentioned kanye ive also had that thought before and i think hes a fan, he's even pictured on official burzum merchandise. He dropped a new song a couple days ago (Vultures Havoc version) thats mv visuals to me felt very inspired by bm imagery.

King Varg...at his young best !!!!!

I very like your reaction. And most of that you say is right. Sorry for my english.

Check out Hecate Enthroned- The Slaughter of Innocence, a Requiem for the Mighty Album... Brutal AF 🤘

Black Metal masterpiece 🤘

Bring more Burzum.

My only Disney Princess. ❤ Greetings my Afrfodita it's Riga baby? ❤🔥🇱🇻