Review Summary: bork bork.
Fall presents a slightly faltering dichotomy between the frost-laden trems/blast beats and bouncy symphonic-prog rock stylings that have grown to dominate Borknagar's modern discography. Off of
True North this precarious balance was knit together tightly by keeping, on some level, the generalized song forms rooted in complex but concise prog-rock while keeping the wintry isolation of black metal largely in aesthetic (not to say that this form was held indefinitely, as the first track “Thunderous” is absolutely a melodic bm monster). Here, however, there seems to be an aim at crafting greater contrast while also
slightly dialing back those groovy mid-tempo musings we saw before. In its place is a greater emphasis on cathartic snarls and greater grandeur at every corner; bigger, louder clean vocals. Faster blast beats. More power chords and even some shreds. If
True North was them gearing towards a hooks-and-bangers rock-oriented approach, then
Fall is them aiming for power metal levels of catharsis.
The record begins like a wailing winter storm that blots out the sun. “Summits” is a goddamn surge of primal power in its first three minutes with an overall energy that could shear the caps off mountains. This gives way to a (rather shocking) reprisal, in which twangy guitar leads gently wind around some truly ethereal keys. This patiently builds upon itself-the brisk wintry breezes that caress the snow surrounding you are amassing strength, and with some immensely operatic vocals to serve as the pivot to which our storm churns, the great glacial maelstrom is back stronger than before. To say the least this track is emblematic of almost everything great off this record done with a finesse that
most of the album doesn’t quite have. The following track is a prime example of this, sounding more like a hybrid of diet-Wardruna and a creatively stagnant power metal ballad. While this may be the most extreme example of where their epic musings fail them, it does at least highlight the creative withdrawal when Borknagar aims a bit -too- much for bombast.
Things do cap off rather impressively, however, with “Unraveling” being maybe the only track to heavily reintegrate the more whimsical moments off Borknagar’s last two albums. Wildly theatrical organs? Tite. Goofy and wondrous operatic chorus? God yes brother. Tasty guitar licks? Abso***inglutely (Ok, the shreds off of “Moon” are as well, quite tasty). While this track is a romp and a half, the
final track, “Northward” is the closest they again come to the hulking compositions that comprise “Summits”. It’s a bit more reserved for sure, tossing back and forth between weighty mid-tempo balladry and absolute barnstorming (more on somewhat improper use of words I think are fun later) riffs and shrieks instead of being as consistently 0-1000, but it is in these delicate moments where this record
sometimes shows how well Borknagar can marry complexity, corniness and unwavering fun into a delightful hodgepodge that make you wanna shout-
“bork”.
