The hate for this album amazes me. If him making this kind of music is "a shame to his name" (Burzum, a word he took from The Lord of the Rings) then let the people who have the capacity to listen to more than just metal enjoy it. I guess it won't be most people's cup of tea if they're not into medieval folklore or the vikings of history. I've listened to everything he's done starting with his earlier anti-black metal triumphs, and UMSKIPTAR is and always will be, for me, his magnum opus. It's expertly composed (albeit repetitive at times) ,and the vocals that pour from Varg is so delicate this time around, you would think a man who had been done in for wrongdoings in the past would be wholly incapable of producing such grace. There is STILL metal in there for those who like it. Including myself. This is atmospheric, devotional music at it's core and thankfully it's mainly electric guitar and no synth. (Varg tends to overdo the synth with an infamous windswept effect on his next records) There is a also ton of emotion to be felt here. Idk if this was Varg's intention, but when I listen to some of the tracks, here, particularly Surtr Sunnan and Valgaldr, I get misty eyed. This kind of music "transports" me to a life or time that I may or may not have lived, as odd as that sounds but it plucks at my heartstrings.

I listened to an Mp3 rip of the entire album. Then I read some of the reviews here. I also searched a bit online and stumbled on a very disparaging review written by a guy appropriately named "Killjoy". That was on Metalstorm.net.I then bought a LP vinyl copy on the Back On Black label for about $40 USD, brand new. I bought it because I liked the sound, simple as that. I also liked where it took me back to.I've got plenty of Heavy music so I don't need a tutorial on what's good and what's not. Enjoying music is subjective. Buying music according to what other people prefer or favor is not what I do.

I literally just bought this, and am listening to it right now. I was pretty late to the black metal game, as I've only been listening to it for roughly ten years. Like any genre, there are few innovators and loads of shitty imitators. Burzum is one of the former, in my opinion, but this record sounds like the later. Now, there's ideas on here that I like. I'm not mad about clean vocals and instruments. I don't mind the experimenting. And some of this kinda feels like I'm being told a visual story in my head, and this is the soundtrack (i.e. "Galgvidr"). I dig that. In fact, everything from track 8-11 is pretty good, and would have worked really well as an EP. Burzum has joined the list of bands that have forgotten about the simplicity and beauty of the EP and single. If you don't have enough strong material, you won't make a strong album. This is not a strong album.I know the count has a right to do what he wants, and fuck everyone else, but quality control seems to have been thrown out the window. If the record wasn't so long, and maybe had a few good headbangers on it, it would be a decent release. But as of right now, I'm regretting the $12 I spent on it. Maybe it'll grow on me, but as of right now I'm doubting how many repeat listens this album will get.

Right !!

I just respect his work !!

Sad than here is not possible post vote 0/5... I felt in love with Burzum 20 years ago, when he made first releases, this was something. Now, when I listened 1 time this new "album" - I decided than will never listen it again. There is totally NOTHING. If this was some band with unknown name and released 1st album - than I putted it between 1000x other black metal "shit bands" - but when there is written BURZUM, this made only shame for this name in my mind.

Very unique and interesting release this man never disappoints!

After listening this thing one cannot avoid from thinking that Varg should kill someone elses and start an iconoclast riot in the effort to inflamme his now frigid inventive. Its the only thing i can think of that would "improve" his current artistic mediocrity. Being stubborn is not the same as being determined, as being patriotic is not the same as being nationalist, as having mental stability is not the same as being deluded by psychotic delirium, thats a conflict most fanatics accuse, specially the religious related ones and although Varg is clearly not into Christianity, he is equally fanatic as his antipodes are. Vulgarly paraphrasing Nietzsche, Varg effectively killed god only to replace to another kind in which he deposits a faith as irrational as any religion is.Believers use faith as a matter of understanding reality and usually their logic and reasoning results completely absurd and based on completely odd concepts and ideas. Varg accuses this in this album. He had come to believe that he is somehow "predestined" to interpret the Völuspá as the ancients did and also out of nowhere he claims to grant this effort with the musical accent it should have had in its origins. What we observe its that he just believe in what he believes blindly as any fanatic do and therefore (for him) then it is true just becouse. Unfortunately for him, only the thousand fans he still has behind still believe this preach. This work portrays not only a very mediocre interpretation on the ways and moods of the myth interplayed but of the concept of the music interpreted. Shows the lack of knowledge from Varg about the music culture he pedantically boasts he is the modern interpreter and developer, pronounciating the poems from the mythical tale following the random "truths" that come from his mind, shows also that he cannot really play any music out of the mould from his maniac metal, inspired only by the once legendary album that made him famous (as any conspicuous narcissist should do) and this work as his dark past persecute him as some kind of fatal dream, legacy from his now lost youth.Varg is confined and lost in the prison from his psychotic mind, looping eternally in his own fantasies and deliriums that he tries to capture in vain in his later works. His intent to enter into the folklore just abruptly undress his lack of musical abilities and knowledge to create what he wants to create, denounces an album made with mediocre ideas and understanding and with equally poor talent to produce something coherent. He is right whatsoever in his right to believe that deliriums are real and that his music is great, that he has trascended.May Odin show him the way...

Mr Pizza slice strikes again with the verbal capabilities of a true mongoloid. Keep the pizza diet along with the pills for the brain baby boy,meanwhile ill give you more reviews for you to rant your fucking pants off. ;)

Naw I just think you're one of those use google for words that sound smart then you use them. Also no where in my comment do I defend the album. In fact all I did was rip on you and you hilariously pathetically cliche hipster lumber jack look. Get at me when your new album drops. Can't wait to hear the greatest black metal since the second wave came into the fold. Now get back to cleaning your moms basement. She doesn't like when you leave all your toys all over the floor when she comes to wake you up after your mid day nap.

Another comment from a long time Burzum sucking leach know it nothing who pretends no one should say anything bad about his musical fetish. Welcome to the harsh reality of life, everyone can critizise everything bitch. Without criticism no cultural improvement.

Just another long winded review from a long winded bearded know it all hipster that made what amazing, ground breaking, or even noticeable albums? Oh yeah, none. ill be on the look out for your outside the box albums you're working on since all of the reviews I've read of yours bash respected bands of the black metal genre for being super cliche. Anyone can sit around and critique peoples art behind their back and even act like they'd have made even better art. You sell records on a website. Not even your own art. You seem reallllly cool.

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Seems you have a serious deficit skill for reading, i recommend a neuro linguistic especialist for you, seriously. On the other hand whenever you remotely understand the panorama of folklore from Scandinavia, folk music and the idea behind it, come back. Meanwhile keep listening the past and live in the ideal music world entombed into the decadent black metal niche.PS:Btw parasitize is whenever theres a guest sucking eternally over the host without the slightest intention to leave, thats what acritic fans like you do, parasitizing the mediocrity and unquestioning it.

Boring for the average metal fan, apocalyptic for few of certain disposition. They know who they are. So does Varg.

Im trying to be objective but I am so bored after hearing this I just can't be bothered . Total self indulgent bullsh*t

He also ripped apart Blut Aus Nord albums as if he'd somehow would have created something better. Pretty sure his mom won't allow him to play drums too loud in her basement.

If they don't like it they can say it. This is called freedom. It's not that everyone has to like everything.What do you think? That Varg's feelings are hurt when some people don't like his new album(s)?For sure they don't understand it... but that's ok. Varg was very uncompromising on this album, that's why it's so good for some - and bad for others (the latter probably want something "safe", something formulaic, something closer to cliché black metal).