Borknagar "Empiricism (USA, Century Media, 8099-2)"

Empiricism is the fifth studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Borknagar. It is their first studio album to feature Vintersorg frontman Andreas Hedlund on vocals and Jan Erik "Tyr" Tiwaz on bass. It was also the last album to feature Jens F. Ryland on guitar until his return to the band in 2010.

The album was recorded at Fagerborg Studio and Toproom Studio during June and July 2001, and was mixed and produced by the band and Børge Finstad.

Track listing

1. "The Genuine Pulse" Øystein G. Brun Brun 4:51
2. "Gods of My World" Brun Brun 4:25
3. "The Black Canvas" Lars A. Nedland Brun 5:18
4. "Matter and Motion" Nedland Nedland 2:30
5. "Soul Sphere" Brun Brun 6:40
6. "Inherit the Earth" Asgeir Mickelson, Brun Brun 5:29
7. "The Stellar Dome" Brun Brun 5:36
8. "Four Element Synchronicity" Vintersorg Brun 5:51
9. "Liberated" Nedland Brun 4:51
10. "The View of Everlast" Tyr, Brun Brun 4:28

Total length: 49:59

Recording information:

Recorded & mixed during June-July 2001 at Fagerborg Studio, Norway.

Additional recording done during June-July 2001 at TopRoom Studio, Lunner, Norway.

Mastered Aug. 2001 at Masterhuset, Oslo, Norway.

Borknagar – production, mixing

Borge Finstad – production, mixing, engineer

Ola Johansen – mastering

Christophe Szpajdel – logo

Borknagar "Quintessence (Limited Edition Digipak, Germany, Century Media, 77289-2)"

Quintessence is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian progressive metal band Borknagar. It was recorded at The Abyss Studios in January 2000 and mixed by Peter Tägtgren.

According to the members of the band, this album was initially meant to be a relatively straightforward black metal release, as indicated by the production quality and the emphasis on harsh vocals rather than clean singing.

Vocalist Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs plays bass guitar on the album, following the departure of former bassist Kai K. Lie prior to recording sessions for the album. Original keyboardist Ivar Bjørnson and drummer Eric "Grim" Brødreskift were also replaced by Lars A. Nedland and Asgeir Mickelson respectively. Quintessence would also be the last Borknagar album to feature Hestnæs, who left to join Dimmu Borgir (reportedly due to an ultimatum on Øystein Brun's part), until his return in 2010.

Track listing

1. "Rivalry of Phantoms" Øystein G. Brun Brun 4:36
2. "The Presence Is Ominous" Brun Brun 4:55
3. "Ruins of the Future" Brun Brun 4:55
4. "Colossus" Asgeir Mickelson ICS Vortex 4:27
5. "Inner Landscape" (instrumental) Lars A. Nedland 2:51
6. "Invincible" Brun Brun 4:25
7. "Icon Dreams" Brun Brun 4:32
8. "Genesis Torn" Mickelson Brun 5:16
9. "Embers" (instrumental) Brun 1:26
10. "Revolt" Brun Brun 6:05

Total length: 43:28

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Abyss Studio in January 2000.

Mastered at Strype Audio, Oslo, Norway on February 7th, 2000.

Borknagar – production, arrangements

Peter Tagtgren – production, mixing, engineer

Lars Szoke – engineer

Tom Kvallsvoll – mastering

Christophe Szpajdel – logo

Borknagar "True North (Limited Edition Digipak, Germany, Century Media, 19075977752)"

True North is the eleventh studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Borknagar. It was released on 27 September 2019 by Century Media Records. It is their first album without Andreas Hedlund since Quintessence.

Loudwire named it one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.

Track listing

1. "Thunderous" Lars Nedland, Øystein G. Brun Brun 8:34
2. "Up North" ICS Vortex ICS Vortex 6:29
3. "The Fire That Burns" Nedland, Brun Brun 6:38
4. "Lights" Nedland Nedland 5:04
5. "Wild Father's Heart" Nedland, Brun Brun 5:42
6. "Mount Rapture" Nedland, Brun Brun 6:08
7. "Into the White" Nedland Nedland 5:57
8. "Tidal" Nedland, Brun Brun 9:32
9. "Voices" Nedland Nedland 5:07

Total length: 59:11

Limited edition digipak

1. "Wild Father's Heart" (instrumental demo) 6:25
2. "Up North" (demo) 6:38

Total length: 72:14

Limited first-pressing edition is a digipak CD with two bonus tracks included.

Six-panel digipak with a clear tray on the right panel.

Includes a 20-page booklet and a two-page Century Media leaflet about new releases.

"Wild Father's Heart" is dedicated to Øystein Garnes Brun's late father.

Official videos:

- Up North

- Voices

Recording information:

Recorded, mixed, and mastered from December 2018 to March 2019.

Drums were engineered and recorded at Strand Studio, Stabbek, Norway, in December 2018.

Guitars were recorded at Crosound Studio, in January 2019.

Keys, effects, and synthesizer were recorded at Mezzanine Studio, from February - March 2019.

Vocals were recorded at Crosound Studio and Mezzanine Studio, from February - March 2019.

Produced by Borknagar.

Tracks 10 and 11 were mixed and mastered at Crosound Studio.

Thor Erik Dullum – photography (cover art)

Marcelo Vasco – layout, graphic design

Christophe Szpajdel – logo

Borknagar "Origin (Germany, Century Media, 77599-2)"

Origin is Borknagar's seventh studio album, and is primarily an acoustic effort. Origin explores the band's more progressive and traditional elements.

Following his brief departure from the band during the recording sessions of Epic, this album would mark bassist Tyr's rejoining of the band.

"Oceans Rise" is an acoustic remake of the original which appeared on their 1998 release The Archaic Course.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Øystein G. Brun, except "White", written by Lars Nedland.

1. "Earth Imagery" 4:52
2. "Grains" 3:42
3. "Oceans Rise" 6:05
4. "Signs" 1:17
5. "White" 4:45
6. "Cynosure" 2:55
7. "The Human Nature" 4:48
8. "Acclimation" 4:30
9. "The Spirit of Nature" 3:00

Total length: 35:54

This is an acoustic album.

Comes with a 12-page booklet.

Recorded during the period of August 2005 to June 2006.

Guitars recorded at Toproom Studio. Bass recorded at Low and Below Studio. 

Vocals, violin, cello and drums recorded at MultiMono Studio.

Keyboards and organs recorded at Auditorium Audio.

Bamboo flute and recorders recorded at Musikk & Mystikk.

Album was mixed at Toproom Studio by Børge Finstad and Øystein G. Brun.