Burzum
Belus


3.5
great

Review

by Brandon Scott EMERITUS
March 8th, 2010 | 165 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Expected to be a large disappointment, Belus proves that Varg Vikernes is still relevant within the black metal community.

Introduksjon

In the year of 2009, after a lengthy 16 years of incarceration due to the murder of second wave black metal leader Euronymous, Varg Vikernes had finally attained his freedom. Rumors worldwide fueled the prospect of a new album, and almost immediately Varg responded with that rumors confirmation, warming the hearts of hundreds of thousands of black metal fans around the world. In December 2009, it was announced the album would be entitled Belus (a renaming of what was initially an album to be titled The White God). Throughout the recording process, Varg promised a high caliber black metal epic (along with almost constantly disassociating himself and Burzum with the current black metal scene), but the question on everyone's mind was; will Belus really deliver? Thankfully for this reviewer, along with the thousands of other black metal fans worldwide, Belus is a worthy addition to a line of classic albums. While it may not stand to his classic albums of the 90's, Belus shows many great and new elements to Burzum's burgeoning and unique sound, proving that Varg Vikernes is not down for the count just quite yet.

Belus displays an almost completely new side of Burzum, combining well established elements from his older material, with newer, and at times, unexpected components. The first, is a very obvious increase in melody. Songs like "Glemselens Elv" are filled with extremely harmonious and atmospheric tremolo picked guitar lines. Fourth track "Kaimadalthas' Nedstigning" starts with heavy black thrash inspired riffs (which with their dissonance also bring the song "Key To The Gate" from Det Som Engang Var to mind), but then eventually leads into a beautifully melodic spoken word section, complete with a simple, yet powerful lead and melodic chords layered underneath. An element that has never been seen before in a Burzum record is the inclusion of clean vocals; an element that find a warm welcome on Belus. Tracks such as "Kaimadalthas' Nedstigning" display Varg's mid ranged and surprisingly well toned clean vocals, which take almost a soothing quality and provide excellent contrast from the fierce nature of the music. Instrumentally, Belus also proves to be the most technical piece of work Burzum has ever done. While nothing is played with mind boggling skill, songs like "Sverddans" and "Keliohsten" show perhaps the cleanest playing in the whole Burzum discography. Everything from the guitar to drums is played with great precision, a big difference from earlier Burzum material. The bass in particular stands out, as it is pleasantly audible and often diverges from the guitar lines to create its own unique harmonies and patterns.

For all of its accomplishments, unfortunately Belus does falter in a few places. Firstly is the fact that the guitar passages at times, do not hold much interest for long periods of time (which is the length they are usually played for). There are many times that songs ("Belus' Doed", and "Morgenroede") feel much longer than their running time, with bland and uninspired riffs dominating the lengths of the songs. There is also a strong lack of the keyboard embellishments that have in the past, dominated the sound of Burzum. Many times some songs feel like they could include some sort of airy synth work, but unfortunately they never come. Perhaps the biggest fault with Belus lies with Varg's vocal performance. Past albums were filled with Varg's unique and pain filled screech and while that style of vocals was often hit or miss for some fans, it was a large part of the definitive Burzum sound. Belus shows Varg adopting a much more generic and processed style of vocals, that sound like they could come from any other vocalist in the genre.

Konklusjon

Overall, while Belus might not be the masterpiece many were hoping for, it is definitely not the disappointment many were anticipating it to be. Despite it's down points, Belus displays a new, invigorated Burzum ready to take on the 21st century. From here, many will ponder about the future of Burzum and possible new releases, but it can easily be said that if Varg builds upon the great new factors of Burzum's sound, that he might just once again create a string of classic albums.



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user ratings (735)
3.4
great
other reviews of this album
Motiv3 (3)
The Burzum of 2010 is one of progression and regression....

Systemunfolded (4)
You're late...

GentleAvacado (4.5)
Belus deserves to be known as one of Burzum's best, with some of his most brutal, well crafted songs...



Comments:Add a Comment 
SCREAM!
March 8th 2010


15755 Comments


Well written review but i agree more with hollier's personally. Ive been wanting to do one but i just dont have the time right now )=

Crysis
Emeritus
March 8th 2010


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

my konklusjon about this albummsjon is that it was better than I originally expectedsjonjonjonsjonsjon





paragraphs about the history of burzum and varg are really, really pointless because anyone interested in the album probably already knows about it.

Relinquished
March 8th 2010


48947 Comments


Good review man, I like the introduksjon/konklusjon stuff but Crysis is right. You also got a coding error in the second paragraph.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 8th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks guys. I fixed the coding error and later i'll probably rework the first two paragraphs into one so it could still give some minor history to Varg/Burzum.

Motiv3
March 8th 2010


9175 Comments


I aree with Crysis about the whole history thing. But good review nonetheless.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 8th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 9th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

took out the first two paragraphs

jingledeath
March 9th 2010


7100 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

still borezum

Bullitt
March 9th 2010


1666 Comments


I need to hear this.

SCREAM!
March 9th 2010


15755 Comments


Jingle's got the right idea

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 9th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

on some songs i'm inclined to agree with you guys

zaruyache
March 10th 2010


27688 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I love how Varg hates the new black metal scene, yet with this album he in many ways conforms to the style. Loving his t0tly br00t not at all water3d down vox, though.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 11th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

It's still very much a Burzum record though

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 11th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Bump

JWT155
March 11th 2010


14967 Comments


Burned a church afterwards too.

zaruyache
March 11th 2010


27688 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

He's too busy wearing polo shirts and signing autographs to burn anything down these days.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
March 12th 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Still stabbing

Hawks
March 12th 2010


93077 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Album is good. Wasn't quite what I was hoping for, but still good.

Crysis
Emeritus
March 12th 2010


17640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Na c'mon don't kid we all know varg is wearing Umbro



2kvlt4u



[IMG]http://nd03.blog.cz/300/772/6ce33f2d6f_56621466_o2.jpg[/IMG]

Relinquished
March 12th 2010


48947 Comments


My cousin has the exact same thing.



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