### Borknagar: Quintessence

#### 31/03/09 || The Duff

Borknagar is going through some weird times, these days – as far as I can tell, the last four “main” albums (not including “Origin”) released by the band were very well received, each successive album bringing a new legion of fans. Then they announced on their official forums that after releasing the aforementioned all-acoustic disc, they were to disband; said album did not get that much press, if I remember correctly, so Oyster’s project (he writes about ninety percent of the music) abandoned plans to split, and are now persevering anew in the studio – it’s been some five odd years since their last true black metal output, so fuck knows if anyone will remember who they are upon the release date, hence why I’m here telling you about one of their many great efforts, “Quintessence”.

These guys used to be a classic black/Viking metal band, their first two albums being widely heralded by necro-dudes as well as those who relish music with an atmosphere (they also featured the legendary Garm, of Ulver and Arcturus, on vocals). With their third album, “The Archaic Course”, the band veered towards a more folk, symphonic black metal style, but the vocals were entirely clean for the most part, the music likewise not particularly ferocious. Don’t know if the band received some criticism for the album, or if it was simply a case of experimenting the once and getting it out of its system as with “Origin”, but this album, although sticking to the folk and symphonic black metal styling, is a lot more dense and visceral.

This isn’t to say that they no longer frolic in the woods wearing nothing but Speedos and chain mail, ‘cos this band can still get very cheesy – I mean, they do have androgynous vocalist ICS Vortex (bass player for Dimmu Borgir and otherwise stalker of all things Garm) in their ranks; I really dig the guy’s style, but if sissy, high pitched girly vocals aren’t your thing, I would advise you turn away.

Aside from such very eloquent, rich and flamboyant vocals, “Quintessence” comprises regular black, hints of Viking, a lot of unusual synth that is still traditional enough to make it symphonic black metal, folk metal, raspy shouts, blasts (a gifted drummer in Asgeir Mickelson, although some of you won’t agree with his taste for an absurdly light drum sound), and very catchy vocal melodies, as to be expected from Vortex’s clean singing if you’re at all familiar with his work in Dimmu.

That sums it up; if you can stomach the cheese, this band is unique enough to warrant some time if you’re into black/progressive metal that has some epicness due to the grandness of the compositions but is otherwise kept very short and focused.

8 great pieces of… black metal… out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2000
- Label: Century Media
- Website: www.borknagar.com
- Band
- Oystein G. Brun: guitars
- Jens F. Ryland: guitars
- I.C.S. Vortex: bass, vocals
- Asgeir Mickelson: drums
- Lars A. Nedland: synth

- Tracklist
- 01. Rivalry of phantoms
- 02. The presence is ominous
- 03. Ruins of the future
- 04. Colossus
- 05. Inner landscape
- 06. Invincible
- 07. Icon dreams
- 08. Genesis torn
- 09. Embers
- 10. Revolt