Burzum – Umskiptar (2012)

May 19, 2021

I’ve always considered Umpskiptar the low key death rattle to the initial Burzum black metal return. The project is barely black metal at all anymore, the songs lean much more towards overt norse and Viking vibes than they do anything dark and evil.

That’s not to say that Umpskiptar is necessarily bad however, it actually has its own kinda unique charm to it. The songs are generally long and winding, again that trademark Vikernes hypnotic wasp-like guitar weavery binds you in its spell, but thankfully instead of horrendous “harsh” vocals, there are all sorts of styles incorporated here, as I say, to push this norse mythology vibe rather than stankin’ evil black metal.

And that my friends, at the time of writing, is where Burzum and metal part ways for the final time.