Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (: if the Light Takes Us) would probably belong in the wing of relaxed black metal (the other being brutal Mayhem-ish) and certainly at the top.
Vocals: I really can't imagine how Varg pulls those off, I certainly have tried and I have days of throat pains to prove it. Though at first they may seem to not be fitting the music, they are certainly what makes you aware that it is truly black metal.
Instrumentation: This is where, I think, Burzum really shines and reminds you why it is so important for Black Metal. Varg certainly defines how guitars need to sound in black metal, while the other (as previously mentioned, more brutal) black metal giant Mayhem still employs rather death metal-sounding music.
The drums, as can be expected in the genre, are at the back of the ride, and you can see they are not nearly as important. The drumming could be called monotonous, which fits the genre, and it seems to me that Varg struggles to catch up in terms of speed.
Overall: The vocals are what can be expected from Varg and there is no point debating on whether or not they are good. The vocals are there, truly Burzumic and it's a case of 'take it or leave it'.
The instrumentation is perfect for a black metal album and if you are a true Black Metaller, you will not be disappointed.
The Drumming is the part of the album that doesn't shine and apart from opening bits of the songs the drumming sinks into obscurity and they will begin to catch the music perfectly. |
