Burzum
Burzum was a prominent Norwegian black metal solo project formed in 1987 by Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes, born Kristian Vikernes). Grishnackh is currently serving a 21 year sentence for murder and arson in Trondheim, Norway. Grishnackh and his project were instrumental in the crystallization of early black metal, and Grishnackh later gained great infamy when he murdered Euronymous, the guitarist of another Norwegian black metal band, Mayhem.
Statistics
- Genre: Black metal, isolationist, synthieval
- Country: Norway
- Status: Dissolved
- Time: 1987-2000
It's not a band.
Biography
Burzum was formed by the then-14-year-old Count Grishnackh (real name Varg Vikernes) in 1987. The band was originally called Uruk-Hai (after the Uruk-Hai orcs of Middle-earth from the works of J. R. R. Tolkien), but the name was later changed to Burzum, which means "darkness" in Tolkien's fictional language, the Black Speech. Originally Grishnackh played in a band called Old Funeral with members of Immortal. However, he decided that this type was music was irrelevant, and he chose to focus on Burzum from 1987 on.
Burzum's early music shows a moderate Tolkien influence – for example, the name Count Grishnackh is taken from an orc called Grishnákh in Tolkien's works. Some of Burzum's early songs featured titles like "En Ring Til Å Herske" (translates to "One Ring To Rule"). However, Grishnackh later explained this to be a reference not to Tolkien, but to the Rheingold of Norse mythology. As he continued to release albums, Grishnackh's attraction to Norse mythology and pagan beliefs became more and more apparent. Much of Burzum's later work focuses on the Norse legends, especially his most recent two synthieval albums: Dauði Baldrs, which deals exclusively with the legend of the death of Baldr, and Hliðskjálf, which recounts the death of Wotan and the approach of Ragnarok.
Musically, Burzum has progressed from primitive, raw black metal to classical-influenced synthieval music characterized by minimalist tendencies and dark atmospheres. Grishnackh's music has always been characterized by a curiously sedate violence, deeply hypnotic repetition, and simple yet profound song stuctures, like Horde; this trademark Burzum sound has been present on both Grishnackh's black metal and synthieval albums alike.
Currently Grishnackh is in prison for the murder of his former friend and fellow musician Euronymous (of Mayhem), as well as the arson of several ancient Norwegian churches. He is suspected in various other crimes, and was believed to be planning another church burning at the time of his arrest (police found 100 kg of explosives in his home). Grishnackh was previously a member of the far-right extremist group "Hvit Arisk Motstand" ("White Aryan Resistance") and was once involved with the "Norsk Hedensk Front" ("Pangermanic Heathen Front"). He has expressed interest in neo-nazism and has written several books dealing with his worldview. Grishnackh has released two Burzum albums during his prison sentence (Dauði Baldrs and Hliðskjálf); both albums rely only on keyboards and – in Grishnackh's own estimation – are not related to black metal. Also, the Filosofem (1996) album was released to the public after Grishnackh had been imprisoned. Recently Grishnackh has renounced any connection with black metal and heavy metal music in general.
Many of the covers of Burzum albums are pictures by the Norwegian 19th century artist Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914).
Discography
Studio releases
- Burzum - (1992) (Reis. 1995)
- Aske [EP] - (1993)
- Det Som Engang Var - (1993)
- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss - (1994)
- Filosofem - (1996)
- Dauði Baldrs - (1997)
- Hliðskjálf - (1999)
Live and compilation releases
- Burzum / Aske [Compilation] - (1993)
- Burzum & Gorgoroth [Split CD] - (1993)
- Burzum Unreleased Demos [Compilation] - (1994)
- 1992-1997 [Compilation] - (1998)
- Ragnarok (A New Beginning) [Compilation] - (2000)
- Anthology [Compilation] - (2002)
Demos and bootlegs
Band members
Former members
- Count Grishnackh (Varg Vikernes) - Vocals, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums - (1987-2000)
- Samoth (Tomas Haugen) - Bass - (1993)