Borknagar — Empiricism

Empiricism, it's the long-awaited new Borknagar album. With 2 new members in the line-up, Tyr on bass and Vintersorg on vocals, who are both replacing Simen Hestnæs.

Vintersorg is Borknagar's third vocalist already and the expectations are high, really high. The man has a lot to prove since most fans swore by Simen's unique voice. He also has to stand up to the first Borknagar vocalist, Garm (Ulver, Arcturus), who left the band after the second album: 'The Olden Domain'.

It's time to forget about Simen and Garm, since Vintersorg does a great job on Empiricism. He wrote the best vocal-lines in Borknagar history and both his clean- and grim voices are amazing. Don't judge him on his first solo albums like 'Till Fjälls' ('97), where he did a good job but didn't have the techniques he now does have. Vintersorg's voice fits Borknagar perfectly and it's almost as if he is in the band since the start in '95.

I can not only credit Vintersorg, since all musicians improved after Quintessence. Empiricism has the feel and atmosphere of the band really enjoying to play these songs. Little bass, drums or synth solo's are included and sometimes I get the impression that the band got influenced by prog-rock acts like Anekdoten. It's not the music itself, but the whole atmosphere and song-structures.

I always felt that Borknagar could improve the production on previous albums. Like they didn't have enough time in the studio to finish the albums fully. This time the band took seven weeks to record, and together with co-producer Børge Finnstad in his Fagerborg/Top Room studios they got the production they wished for. It's crystal-clear and with lots of layers.

The instruments sound perfect. Bass, guitars, drums and synths, they are all hearable and they don't get buried in the mix. Another cool thing is that Lars Nedland used a real hammond organ (remember the song Ad Noctum) and piano this time. Both instruments give the music a fresh feeling.

With nine songs and one instrumental Empiricism has lots of good stuff. Tracks like 'Soul Sphere' or 'The Stellar Dome' are amazing. It's kinda hard to pick out one particular track since all of them are among Borknagar's best. The songs are more complex than before, so the album has to sink in a bit at first.

I find this Borknagar's finest material and it easily tops all their previous albums. This is post-black-metal in it's finest form. Get it as soon as you can, and be prepared to be blown away!

Release: 22 october