Burzum is heralded as one of the black metal greats – however, Burzum and Varg Vikernes becoming household names within the metal community is undoubtedly for all the wrong reasons. If it’s not Varg’s incarceration for the murder of Mayhem’s Euronymous being talked about then it’s his far right political beliefs having the spotlight shone on them. If you were to actually put aside the infamous brand name that he has become, and pick carefully through his discography, you’d notice he hasn’t actually released anything groundbreaking since Filosofem back in 1996.
Sôl Austan, Mâní Vestan is the first non-metal Burzum album to be recorded outside the confines of a prison. You’d be forgiven for thinking that Varg’s ambient sound has probably had time and room to develop without the limitations of incarceration. However, this record falls totally flat in comparison to Dauði Baldrs and Hliðskjálf – at least those two releases conjured a semblance of a mood. This album is in fact the soundtrack to Vikernes’ upcoming film ForeBears – when put into the context of background music, all of these tracks are ideal; the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing facial or a Thai massage. Surprisingly, the title actually translates to ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ and not ‘Crystal Healing: Utopian Senses’.
For those expecting more of the same dark post blackened sound from their favourite mental murderer: turn back, there is nothing for you here anymore; this possesses a sound that is difficult to describe because, simply put, it doesn’t sound like anything at all. In fact, that it is separated out into separate tracks seems nonsensical as it is essentially almost an hour of the same thing over and over again.
The speed with which Varg has been knocking out albums for in the last four years is indicative of the quality of his recent workings, however, none more so than this. It’s impossible to say how much effort went into crafting this opus, but an educated guess would say ‘not much’. Completely unremarkable and lacking in anything worth mentioning, this makes even the heavily criticised Umskiptar seem inspired and exciting. Time to quit while you’re behind, Burzum.
1/10
Angela Davey