Borknagar has evolved musically since the band’s beginnings almost thirty years ago. Thanks to the addition of genre hero ICS Vortex (Arcturus, ex-Dimmu Borgir), Borknagar’s 9th album ‘Urd’ (2012) was a step up from its predecessor ‘Universal’ and the Vintersorg/ICS Vortex tandem worked wonders for the band’s overall sound. Never afraid to incorporate rock, doom
and even operatic influences into their music, Borknagar are a genuinely progressive folk/black metal outfit. ‘Winther Thrice’ (2016) is a true gem, for instance. The preponderance of clean singing is striking for a black metal album but the overall impression is of a well-balanced masterpiece that walks the line between traditional black metal mayhem and the band’s progressive influences. They don’t tour all that often so this is a very special treat indeed! Their most recent slab ‘True North’ is one of their best and thanks to the melodic and progressive touches you don’t have to be a black metal enthusiast to appreciate it. Their next outing ‘Fall’ is scheduled for a February 2024 release. (#GMM24)
