LIBRARY
Burzum: Black Metal crawls out of the underground!
"Horna" magazine (#4, December 1997)
Karol Jaszewski
Note: This article is based on "Tempo" (Germany) and "Nieuwe Revu" (Netherlands) magazines. It may contain contradictory and unreliable information.
***
Burzum... Black or dark. This word comes from a very old language that no one remembers today. Only the crumbs of time, the time of the past remember this language, trembling with fear. It is the language of Darkness...
This is the word of Varg Vikernes, known in the underground as Count Grishnackh, the leader of the Norwegian Black Metal band Burzum. I think this is quite the best way to start this article. A summary of what happened a few years ago in the Viking land called Norway...
And it all began, in spring 1973, in a town called Bergen... That is where Christian Vikernes was born. His childhood was not successful, he was often beaten by his father when he was in a bad mood, the same often happened to his mother.
When Christian was 14, his mother divorced his father. Then, as a gift, his mother bought him a guitar, which he quickly learned to play, and played on it endlessly. Soon after, he formed his first band, Uruk-Hai (named after "The Lord Of The Rings" book). At the same time, he dropped out of school to devote himself entirely to music, which became the most important thing in his life.
In 1989, Vikernes first met Øystein Aarseth (four years older than Vikernes), whom everyone knew under the pseudonym Euronymous (from Greek mythology - The Prince Of Darkness), as it later turned out, he was a member of Mayhem, and also had his own record store in Oslo - "Helvete". In addition, he started his own production company, Deathlike Silence.
At the same time, Vikernes often traveled and visited Aarseth, mostly in his "Helvete", and later they spent a lot of time over beer, in one of the pubs in Oslo, where people from Black Metal circles met. Vikernes was fascinated by Euronymous, and he thought Vikernes was a nice guy. After a while, he matched some musicians, and together with them he founded Old Funeral. However, Vikernes would not be in this band for a long time, after one of the concerts he stated that he did not like the idea of touring. At the age of 18, Vikernes moved into a house purchased by his mother. As night fell, he delved into the Norwegian stories and sagas of Tolkien. From "The Lord Of The Rings" he chose two significant names for himself... "Burzum" - for his project, and "Count Grishnackh" - for his new name. He became more and more interested in Viking life. This was Vikernes' life, without any major controversial acts, until...
Oslo 1991 Euronymous declares war against Christianity. Twelve subordinates of Euronymous, among whom Grishnackh was also included, laid out a plan of action entrusted to people associated with the Black Metal scene throughout Norway. At this time, quite controversially, Dead, the vocalist of Mayhem, dies. As it later turns out, he took his own life, shooting from a hunting rifle in the head, which shot directly crushed his brain. Here is a letter he wrote before his death... "I don't belong to this world, I'm a Forest Demon and I came from the forest, now I want to go back to the forest" (a free retelling of the suicide note - ed.). According to the police report, a few minutes after the accident, Euronymous appeared there. And before police arrived, he managed to take pictures of dead Dead. A few weeks later Satanic Circle unleashed a small war with English magazines and musicians, sending them death sentences. But it didn't end with just correspondence… one example was the burning of a part of Therion's vocalist house, where he found a letter from Grishnackh on the door... "I've been here and I'll be back". At this time, the first Burzum recordings were released, this is rehearsal demo 1991, containing quite primitive music, in addition, without vocals. Soon after this release, Deathlike Silence released the debut CD "Burzum", already more refined, full of dark plays and hysterical vocals. Only "War" is a digression from the whole album, a very lively piece in the atmosphere of old Bathory recordings. During this time, Grishnackh is increasingly recognized in Satanic Circle, taking his place immediately after Euronymous. On the night of June 6, 1991, the first church in Norway burns, thus the Satanic Circle begins its war with Christianity. The photo of the burned church is on the mini-LP Burzum "Aske". With this recording, Grishnackh is assisted by Tomas Haugen, known as Samoth, bassist of Emperor. Not long after that, another church burns, and right after that, the next one in Bergen. In 1992, a total of 8 churches burned down, during one of the fires a firefighter was killed.
Grishnackh is also suspected of arson, but due to the lack of evidence from the police, he is released. At this point, things between Grishnackh and Euronymous are not going well, Vikernes has become Euronymous' rival. There were two things Grishnackh couldn't forgive him for. Firstly: for recapturing his girlfriend, and secondly, for not releasing Burzum album, despite the fact that Grishnackh payed him 40 000 NOK. 9 August 1993 Vikernes borrows a car from his mother, takes one of his friends Snorre for a ride. On the way, they go to his house, where Snorre sets very loud music so that the neighbors think that he is at home. Then they go to the town where Euronymous had recently moved, due to the fact that he had been receiving a lot of threats lately. The only reason Vikernes took Snorre with him was because he knew Euronymous wouldn't open the door for him. So, when Snorre had already called, and the door opened, Vikernes went with Snorre to the fourth floor. Aarseth was very surprised seeing Vikernes, in addition they both disturbed his sleep. Vikernes took out a piece of paper and said he wanted to talk about the record deal. Inside, they were arguing on several different topics. At one point Aarseth went into the kitchen, and a few seconds later Vikernes followed him, who took out a knife and stabbed Aarseth in the back.
Aarseth fell at that moment, but tried to get up and talk. But Vikernes was no longer convinced. When Vikernes swung to deliver the next blow, Aarseth pushed him away, opened the door, and ran up the stairs. Vikernes ran after him, caught up with him and hit him again, again...
The next morning, Aarseth's neighbors found his body, along with streams of blood, outside their front door. The police counted 23 stabbings (16 in the back, the rest in the neck and head). Vikernes was calm that day, he even notified the head of Candlelight Prod., distributor of Deathlike Silence records, that EURONYMOUS is dead...!
Vikernes was arrested on August 20, the police found in his home 150 kg of dynamite, which he wanted to use to blow up the historic church from the XIth century. A few weeks later, the police arrested approximately 20 people charged with arson. By the summer of 1994, 13 churches had been burned. Vikernes was held in custody in Oslo, about 9 months, and then came the day of his trial. His lawyer was Tor Erling Staff, known for his TV show, and for being the most controversial lawyer in Norway. Vikernes remained silent at the trial. From what is known, the lawyer tried to convince the court that the accused was not fully mentally competent at the time of the murder, but this did not give much effect, he was examined by two specialists and they denied it. When the judge read the verdict, Vikernes did not care at all, smiling at one of the cameras. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison, and his friend to 8 years, for accessory to murder. Vikernes got the maximum sentence for murder in Norway.
The next night, two churches burned down, and five weeks later, another one burned down. What did Vikernes think of the trial?... "It was just a show for the media. My lawyer was a faggot (when I openly said in court that I was against homosexuals, he did not react). In addition, Samoth and Faust testified against me." Besides, Grishnackh's only regret at this point is not that he killed Euronymous, but that he didn't kill the man who was with him in the crime... "He got so caught up in the court that he started testifying against himself, and he could come out of it without conflict..." ...Grishnackh was transferred to a prison in Bergen. Nevertheless, Vikernes does not give up on continuing the dark path of Burzum music... He also continues to work for Cymophane, a record label he founded in late 1991. He entrusts the work on Cymophane to his employee. Thanks to this, a new album by Burzum - "Det Som Engang Var" is released, the distribution of this album is handled by Misanthropy Records, run by Diamanda.
This album is more mature than his previous work. The synths are more varied, the same can be said about the music. Soon after, the album "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" was released, musically in the same setting, with more keys and synthesizer.
So, even though Vikernes is serving his sentence in prison, he is not too bored, he has a four-track tape recorder and a synthesizer... During this time, he is forced to cut his hair, but he claims to cut it because of the incredible heat in the prison in the summer. Days pass, months pass, and the fourth work of Burzum appears - "Filosofem". Here we are dealing with a slightly different form of Burzum, vocals played by a computer, totally fused guitars, and good work of drums. This is on the first side and on the second... keyboards, synthesizer, inspired by Norwegian folklore.
On the cover is the address to the Norsk Hedensk Front (Norwegian Pagan Front), which is the address of Vikernes' organization, promoting the Norwegian lifestyle, culture...
Soon after the rumors spread, Vikernes is transferred to a maximum security prison, for completely unknown reasons. The release date of "Balder's Død", is announced for the end of 1996.
At the turn of August / September, thanks to Mystic Prod., licensed by Misanthropy Records, a new work by Grishnackh and Burzum, entitled "Dauði Baldrs", i.e. six unusual stories from the Land of Balder, is published in Poland.
As it was known, this album was supposed to be completely different from the other Burzum works, and so it is... totally different! It's a completely different music, a different atmosphere, although not the same, it's downright depressing. 6 pieces in a truly symphonic setting. No guitars, no drums, no vocals, just the sounds of the keyboards, sometimes sounding like the hymns of Norwegian fathers, sometimes like an ode to forgotten moments, nostalgic and depressing sounds that lead to total detachment from the real thing. "Dauði Baldrs" is an album that can take us to a completely different and forgotten world. Once we get deep into it, we will not pay attention to its monotony or other things... this is the power of this LP. And when it comes to the album cover, and the inside of it, I think any comment would be unnecessary. I know one thing for sure... this record will forever remain in my memory, and many people will pay attention to Burzum's current achievements...
"Dauði Baldrs" was supposed to be the last Burzum album, will it be, almost no one knows about it, will "the death of Balder" mean the death of Burzum?...
At this point, I would like to conclude this article, which, by the way, would not have been created if it were not for several letters from which the information was collected... Thrash 'em all, Sadistic, Infernal Death, Post Mortem, E.O.N... and a few others... I hope that no one will blame me for sanctifying this man on these 5 pages. From the musical side, Burzum was and is for me an eternal inspiration, not to mention the affairs and conflicts that happened then in Norway...
In other languages: Polski
This is the word of Varg Vikernes, known in the underground as Count Grishnackh, the leader of the Norwegian Black Metal band Burzum. I think this is quite the best way to start this article. A summary of what happened a few years ago in the Viking land called Norway...
And it all began, in spring 1973, in a town called Bergen... That is where Christian Vikernes was born. His childhood was not successful, he was often beaten by his father when he was in a bad mood, the same often happened to his mother.
When Christian was 14, his mother divorced his father. Then, as a gift, his mother bought him a guitar, which he quickly learned to play, and played on it endlessly. Soon after, he formed his first band, Uruk-Hai (named after "The Lord Of The Rings" book). At the same time, he dropped out of school to devote himself entirely to music, which became the most important thing in his life.
In 1989, Vikernes first met Øystein Aarseth (four years older than Vikernes), whom everyone knew under the pseudonym Euronymous (from Greek mythology - The Prince Of Darkness), as it later turned out, he was a member of Mayhem, and also had his own record store in Oslo - "Helvete". In addition, he started his own production company, Deathlike Silence.
At the same time, Vikernes often traveled and visited Aarseth, mostly in his "Helvete", and later they spent a lot of time over beer, in one of the pubs in Oslo, where people from Black Metal circles met. Vikernes was fascinated by Euronymous, and he thought Vikernes was a nice guy. After a while, he matched some musicians, and together with them he founded Old Funeral. However, Vikernes would not be in this band for a long time, after one of the concerts he stated that he did not like the idea of touring. At the age of 18, Vikernes moved into a house purchased by his mother. As night fell, he delved into the Norwegian stories and sagas of Tolkien. From "The Lord Of The Rings" he chose two significant names for himself... "Burzum" - for his project, and "Count Grishnackh" - for his new name. He became more and more interested in Viking life. This was Vikernes' life, without any major controversial acts, until...
Oslo 1991 Euronymous declares war against Christianity. Twelve subordinates of Euronymous, among whom Grishnackh was also included, laid out a plan of action entrusted to people associated with the Black Metal scene throughout Norway. At this time, quite controversially, Dead, the vocalist of Mayhem, dies. As it later turns out, he took his own life, shooting from a hunting rifle in the head, which shot directly crushed his brain. Here is a letter he wrote before his death... "I don't belong to this world, I'm a Forest Demon and I came from the forest, now I want to go back to the forest" (a free retelling of the suicide note - ed.). According to the police report, a few minutes after the accident, Euronymous appeared there. And before police arrived, he managed to take pictures of dead Dead. A few weeks later Satanic Circle unleashed a small war with English magazines and musicians, sending them death sentences. But it didn't end with just correspondence… one example was the burning of a part of Therion's vocalist house, where he found a letter from Grishnackh on the door... "I've been here and I'll be back". At this time, the first Burzum recordings were released, this is rehearsal demo 1991, containing quite primitive music, in addition, without vocals. Soon after this release, Deathlike Silence released the debut CD "Burzum", already more refined, full of dark plays and hysterical vocals. Only "War" is a digression from the whole album, a very lively piece in the atmosphere of old Bathory recordings. During this time, Grishnackh is increasingly recognized in Satanic Circle, taking his place immediately after Euronymous. On the night of June 6, 1991, the first church in Norway burns, thus the Satanic Circle begins its war with Christianity. The photo of the burned church is on the mini-LP Burzum "Aske". With this recording, Grishnackh is assisted by Tomas Haugen, known as Samoth, bassist of Emperor. Not long after that, another church burns, and right after that, the next one in Bergen. In 1992, a total of 8 churches burned down, during one of the fires a firefighter was killed.
Grishnackh is also suspected of arson, but due to the lack of evidence from the police, he is released. At this point, things between Grishnackh and Euronymous are not going well, Vikernes has become Euronymous' rival. There were two things Grishnackh couldn't forgive him for. Firstly: for recapturing his girlfriend, and secondly, for not releasing Burzum album, despite the fact that Grishnackh payed him 40 000 NOK. 9 August 1993 Vikernes borrows a car from his mother, takes one of his friends Snorre for a ride. On the way, they go to his house, where Snorre sets very loud music so that the neighbors think that he is at home. Then they go to the town where Euronymous had recently moved, due to the fact that he had been receiving a lot of threats lately. The only reason Vikernes took Snorre with him was because he knew Euronymous wouldn't open the door for him. So, when Snorre had already called, and the door opened, Vikernes went with Snorre to the fourth floor. Aarseth was very surprised seeing Vikernes, in addition they both disturbed his sleep. Vikernes took out a piece of paper and said he wanted to talk about the record deal. Inside, they were arguing on several different topics. At one point Aarseth went into the kitchen, and a few seconds later Vikernes followed him, who took out a knife and stabbed Aarseth in the back.
Aarseth fell at that moment, but tried to get up and talk. But Vikernes was no longer convinced. When Vikernes swung to deliver the next blow, Aarseth pushed him away, opened the door, and ran up the stairs. Vikernes ran after him, caught up with him and hit him again, again...
The next morning, Aarseth's neighbors found his body, along with streams of blood, outside their front door. The police counted 23 stabbings (16 in the back, the rest in the neck and head). Vikernes was calm that day, he even notified the head of Candlelight Prod., distributor of Deathlike Silence records, that EURONYMOUS is dead...!
Vikernes was arrested on August 20, the police found in his home 150 kg of dynamite, which he wanted to use to blow up the historic church from the XIth century. A few weeks later, the police arrested approximately 20 people charged with arson. By the summer of 1994, 13 churches had been burned. Vikernes was held in custody in Oslo, about 9 months, and then came the day of his trial. His lawyer was Tor Erling Staff, known for his TV show, and for being the most controversial lawyer in Norway. Vikernes remained silent at the trial. From what is known, the lawyer tried to convince the court that the accused was not fully mentally competent at the time of the murder, but this did not give much effect, he was examined by two specialists and they denied it. When the judge read the verdict, Vikernes did not care at all, smiling at one of the cameras. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison, and his friend to 8 years, for accessory to murder. Vikernes got the maximum sentence for murder in Norway.
The next night, two churches burned down, and five weeks later, another one burned down. What did Vikernes think of the trial?... "It was just a show for the media. My lawyer was a faggot (when I openly said in court that I was against homosexuals, he did not react). In addition, Samoth and Faust testified against me." Besides, Grishnackh's only regret at this point is not that he killed Euronymous, but that he didn't kill the man who was with him in the crime... "He got so caught up in the court that he started testifying against himself, and he could come out of it without conflict..." ...Grishnackh was transferred to a prison in Bergen. Nevertheless, Vikernes does not give up on continuing the dark path of Burzum music... He also continues to work for Cymophane, a record label he founded in late 1991. He entrusts the work on Cymophane to his employee. Thanks to this, a new album by Burzum - "Det Som Engang Var" is released, the distribution of this album is handled by Misanthropy Records, run by Diamanda.
This album is more mature than his previous work. The synths are more varied, the same can be said about the music. Soon after, the album "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss" was released, musically in the same setting, with more keys and synthesizer.
So, even though Vikernes is serving his sentence in prison, he is not too bored, he has a four-track tape recorder and a synthesizer... During this time, he is forced to cut his hair, but he claims to cut it because of the incredible heat in the prison in the summer. Days pass, months pass, and the fourth work of Burzum appears - "Filosofem". Here we are dealing with a slightly different form of Burzum, vocals played by a computer, totally fused guitars, and good work of drums. This is on the first side and on the second... keyboards, synthesizer, inspired by Norwegian folklore.
On the cover is the address to the Norsk Hedensk Front (Norwegian Pagan Front), which is the address of Vikernes' organization, promoting the Norwegian lifestyle, culture...
Soon after the rumors spread, Vikernes is transferred to a maximum security prison, for completely unknown reasons. The release date of "Balder's Død", is announced for the end of 1996.
At the turn of August / September, thanks to Mystic Prod., licensed by Misanthropy Records, a new work by Grishnackh and Burzum, entitled "Dauði Baldrs", i.e. six unusual stories from the Land of Balder, is published in Poland.
As it was known, this album was supposed to be completely different from the other Burzum works, and so it is... totally different! It's a completely different music, a different atmosphere, although not the same, it's downright depressing. 6 pieces in a truly symphonic setting. No guitars, no drums, no vocals, just the sounds of the keyboards, sometimes sounding like the hymns of Norwegian fathers, sometimes like an ode to forgotten moments, nostalgic and depressing sounds that lead to total detachment from the real thing. "Dauði Baldrs" is an album that can take us to a completely different and forgotten world. Once we get deep into it, we will not pay attention to its monotony or other things... this is the power of this LP. And when it comes to the album cover, and the inside of it, I think any comment would be unnecessary. I know one thing for sure... this record will forever remain in my memory, and many people will pay attention to Burzum's current achievements...
"Dauði Baldrs" was supposed to be the last Burzum album, will it be, almost no one knows about it, will "the death of Balder" mean the death of Burzum?...
At this point, I would like to conclude this article, which, by the way, would not have been created if it were not for several letters from which the information was collected... Thrash 'em all, Sadistic, Infernal Death, Post Mortem, E.O.N... and a few others... I hope that no one will blame me for sanctifying this man on these 5 pages. From the musical side, Burzum was and is for me an eternal inspiration, not to mention the affairs and conflicts that happened then in Norway...
Author: Karol Jaszewski (© 1997 "Horna" magazine, Poland)
In other languages: Polski
