Belus

About seventeen years ago, black metal was all the rage for me. I was totally in awe that fellow human beings were capable of creating such dark, disturbing, yet simultaneously beautiful and majestic expressions of sound. It fit perfectly into my mindset at the time. Now, years later, my musical tastes may have mellowed somewhat, as I find myself less in tune with what I'm hearing from these bands today. This may explain why I took little notice of the fact that the mighty Burzum had released a new album five years ago, the first since Varg Vikernes' release from prison. Well that little misstep on my part has since been rectified. I now own Belus, as well as the four full lengths that have been released since. While each one so far offers something different, I would say the primary emotion that is evoked from this album is nostalgia, and a rekindling of that old spirit within. This becomes evident once track two, "Belus' dod", strikes you in the face with that old familiar riff from Daudi Baldrs. The entirety of this track is old school black metal goodness. Malevolent, dissonant, perfect! Then Glemselens elv arrives, and the listener is whisked away on a twelve minute journey down it's eponymous river, and what a journey it is! Regal, majestic, nostalgic, and the highlight of the album in my opinion. The following three tracks introduce faster tempos and more of that old school flavor that makes you think of snowstorms among heavily forested mountaintops. The final two tracks are slow to mid-paced, and conclude the album with a long, repeating, and hypnotic drone, a staple technique in Burzum's repertoire. Many will find it too repetitive, but it's purpose is to create a trance-like effect, and it does so very effectively. All in all, a very welcome re-introduction to true Norwegian black metal, in all it's familiar trappings. The layers of guitars are excellently performed. The vocals are primarily done in a very convincing rasp, powerful and slightly distorted. The drums and bass provide a steady pulse. There are no keyboards this time around. If you are at all accustomed to this genre, you know what to expect production-wise. If you are looking for dazzlingly technical displays of instrumental virtuosity, you may want to look elsewhere. Burzum has never been about that. If, however, you want to be immersed in that familiar atmosphere of old, circa the early to mid nineties, you could do a lot worse than this. While I admit I enjoyed the follow up, Fallen, quite a bit more than this one, Belus is still an excellent place to start if you are looking to complete your Burzum collection. Solid album. Welcome back Varg!

Whatever you think about his world view, Burzum (Varg) puts out great music!!! Metal/Ambience which is repetitive and hypnotic!!!

Good album not his best but good.

Burzum at best

i can't say enough about how great this album is and how talented ov a musician VARG is!!!! when listening to this album you have to remember he hasent touched any instrument besides a keyboard in almost 16 years, and yet he makes what i consider his best musik yet!!!! every song on this album is amazing, as always he creates an atmosphere only he is capable ov creating and once the album starts its very clear that BURZUM is back and this is a huge middle finger to everyone in the black metal scene and everyone else in general. this is his masterpiece and any fan ov black metal will love this!!! so stop reading this review and go buy it already!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful album, received in perfect conditions and before expected. Thanks from Spain!

Great album. A must have for your collection.

Varg Vikernes is a master of atmospheric metal, he has few equals.

This is for me the most dissatisfying 'metal' Burzum album. I say that because it is varied and uneven containing a mixture of old and new compositions. The other thing to note is that this is the only Burzum album which has been mastered traditionally as metal music (the other albums all being mastered as classical music). Varg himself doesn't seem particularly satisfied with this fact and it certainly gives the album a unique sound in the history of Burzum. However it contains some very good tracks and is recognisably Burzum. It is less progressive than 'Fallen', albeit still with more subtle vocals than the pre-prison releases. Finally, whilst it mostly retains a good atmosphere and the hypnotic/repetitive segments I also think it often 'rocks' in a more traditional way than you might expect, which perhaps makes it more accessible in places. (I'm sure Varg would hate me for saying that!)This is definitely worth checking out for yourself if you like Burzum at all.

Belus is the long awaited first post prison Burzum release, the first one in 11 years. Fans of Burzum`s earler work will enjoy this album but it has a newer and heavier feel to it which makes it distinctive from the other releases.My only criticism is the lack of English translation of the Norwegian lyrics.

Arrived quickly. Great album.

Creative music

Perfection!

The dark inspiration of the early '90s is back!! Varg does not surprise us with that masterpiece. In my opinion he is a musical genius on the way that composes and orchestrates his songs. This album is like the old good wine, Varg at his best age to create real anthems and Belus is a compilation of such anthems. Strongly recommended for black metal fans and not only...

Its been 11 long years, with no new releases from Vikernes.Nevertheless this year hes back with "Belus", and let me just say its been worth the long wait.The album starts out brilliantly with the awesome "Belus Død" (which i personally think is the best track on the cd)This is also the track that for me, sounds the most like his old tracks (i.e Dunkelheit).From the very first listen youre in NO doubt its BURZUM.His style either has changed very little or none at all, for me this is just plain old burzum.I really dont think you can tell that he has been away from his guitar for years.Not his best album, but ABSOLUTELY not his worst(did he make any bad albums?)If you like Burzums style and music, you will certainly NOT be dissapointed in this release.

Il migliore album dopo i 15 anni di carcere e forse il più bello e meglio suonato di sempre. E' già un classico il ritorno del Conte!

As the last notes of Belus, Burzum's comeback (or dare I say revenge) album, for the first time flows through my headphones I notice my jaw is on the floor. An insanely haunting and chilling album! Warmly (or should I say coldly?) recommended!

ノルウェーブラックメタル界の最重要人物、カウント・グリシュナックによる一人ブラックメタル・ユニット、Burzum。一度は活動を停止していたものの、この度復活。前作から11年ぶりとなる、2010年発売7th。ちなみにこの時期のカウントは、自宅で家族と過ごす権利は得るものの、完全出所はまだ先の様子。前作、前々作はギターもヴォーカルも入っていない、キーボードのみで制作されたアンビエント・アルバムだったが、今回は久しぶりに「ブラックメタル」なアルバムである。しかし、あの「鬱」な雰囲気はしっかり継承。というか、あのアンビエント曲をそのままメタル化したような雰囲気。ヴォーカルは、初期のような発狂型ではなく、どこか抑制された、それでいて凄味のある叫び。メロディアスなトレモロリフや、冷ややかなノイズギター。単調なフレーズが延々と繰り返されるスタイルは相変わらずだが、寒々しくも美しいメロディが、降り積もる雪のようにアルバム全体を覆っている。人間社会に背を向け、鬱蒼とした樹海の奥深くに一人入っていくようなイメージ。カウントはキリスト教を憎むかわりに、北欧神話の伝承や神々には敬意を抱いているそうだが、そんな人知を超えた神々しさを感じさせる。それでいて、いちブラックメタルとしても非常にいい雰囲気。狂気や絶望感では初期の方に軍配が上がるが、音楽作品としての完成度はBurzum史上最高なのでは。

何故かライナーノーツ付いてた。

;)

Aus purer Neugier bestellte ich mir dieses Album hier per Overnight Express. Denn wer hätte gedacht, daß nach den etwas seltsamen Instrumentalalben DAUDI BALDRS (1997) und HLIDSKJALF (1999) von BURZUM noch etwas gescheites rauskommt? Vielleicht wenn Mastermind Varg Vikernes aus dem Knast raus ist?2010 war es dann soweit. Varg präsentierte uns das Black Metal-Album BELUS (der altgermanische Sonnengott). Wieder zurück zu seinen alten Tugenden!SONGS:- Leukes Renkespill (Intro)- Belus Död- Glemselens Elv- Kaimadalthas Nedstigning- Sverddans- Keliohesten- Morgenröde- Belus Tilbakekomst (Outro)BEWERTUNG:5 nordische Sterne. Erst war ich geschockt, als ich den neuen Burzum-Schriftzug sah, denn der alte gefällt mir besser. Das Cover des Digipacks finde ich so richtig geheimnisvollschön (ungewöhnlich für BURZUM). Im Booklet sind die Texte zwar abgedruckt, aber nur auf Norwegisch (Schade!).Abgesehen vom dämlichen Intro (hört sich nach einer Glasflasche an?!) gibt es genau den Black Metal ( 52 minutenlang) zu hören, den man von BURZUM erwartet. Dreckig, Fies und Monoton. Hier und Da singt Varg auch mit seiner harmonische Stimme, die sich unglaublich geil anhört - Schade, daß er uns Hörern mit seiner tollen Stimme nicht mit einer folkloristischen Viking-Nummer beglückt. Wie z.B. die Band ENSLAVED mit ihrem Gänsehautsong YGGDRASIL aus dem legendären FROST-Album!Trotzdem bin ich beglückt, und Varg's bester Song ist für mich der Kracher SVERDDANS; ein echter Ohrwurm!FAZIT:BELUS ist ne saucoole Black Metal-Scheibe. Dennoch ist das Album HVIS LYSET TAR OSS (1993) auch weiterhin mein Lieblingsalbum von BURZUM!

だいぶブランクがあったこともあり、ディセクションのこともあり不安だった。 しかし、一曲目からかましてくれた。この邪悪トレモロリフの使い方はさすがで俺が本家(オリジナル)と言わんばかりである。作風は基本的前作の延長線上である。キーボードはほとんどない。よってキーボードインストは一曲もない。スローテンポからブラストで疾走する曲もアリ。はまると恐ろしいぐらい癖になる同じメロディーの繰り返し。たまりません。ホントこの人が奏でるメロディーはファーストから儚くなんとも言えない。それが今も変わらず本作に残っているのは嬉しい。やはりカウントは天才なんだろう。 しかし、ヴォーカルから悲しみや憎悪を感じ無かったのは残念である。サウンドも多少クリアになっている。内容も確かに素晴らしくはあるがフォロワー鬱ブラック達と比べるとなんだか音がストレートで聞きやすいという印象を受けてしまった。次回作にもっと病んだ作品を期待である。

なかなかの高クオリティでした。予想では、獄中で製作したような薄味の作品を作り続けることにしたのではないか、などと噂されてましたが、そんなことはなかったです。プリミティブな反復的な奏法は変わっていませんが、ヴォイスがDarkthrone、Limbonic Artを連想させる雰囲気へと変化しています。今までのような唸るような感じではなくなりましたが、個人的にはこれはこれでアリです。