Borknagar "Borknagar (2004 Reissue, Holland, Displeased Records, D-00126)"

Borknagar is the debut studio album by the Norwegian band of the same name. It is their only album to feature lyrics in the Norwegian language and their only album to feature Infernus on bass (who reportedly recorded all the bass tracks in one day), and their only album recorded at Grieghallen Studios (frequented by other black metal bands such as Emperor and Gorgoroth).

This album features a more straightforward black/Viking metal approach (featuring raging riffs, blasting tempos and more focus on screaming vocals than cleans) as opposed to the band's now trademark progressive/folk sound they would showcase in the next album, The Olden Domain.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Øystein G. Brun, except "Tanker mot tind (Kvelding)" and "Tanker mot tind (Gryning)", written by Ivar Bjørnson.

1. "Vintervredets sjelesagn" ("Soul Tale of the Winter Wrath") 6:44
2. "Tanker mot tind (Kvelding)" ("Thoughts Towards the Peak (Dusk)") 3:29
3. "Svartskogs gilde" ("Black Forest's Feast") 5:52
4. "Ved steingard" ("By the Stone Wall") 2:14
5. "Krigsstev" ("War Song") 2:03
6. "Dauden" ("Death") 5:49
7. "Grimskalle trell" ("Grim Skull Slave") 5:38
8. "Nord naagauk" ("Northern Cuckoo") 3:07
9. "Fandens allheim" ("The Devil's Universe") 6:19
10. "Tanker mot tind (Gryning)" ("Thoughts Towards the Peak (Dawn)") 2:57

Total length: 44:12

This version comes with a slightly different artwork.

The official website of the band says:

For artistic purposes Borknagar chooses to keep the powerful lyrics for this album hidden from the public eye.

In fact none of the lyrics from this album has ever been released.

Recording information:

Recorded sporadically in Grieghallen between October 1995 - January 1996. 

Mixed in May 1996. 

Mastered at Strype Audio.

Eirik "Pytten" Hundvin – production, mixing, mastering

Christophe Szpajdel – logo