Borknargar – The Olden Domain – Review

Borknargar

The Olden Domain (Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

Black metal supergroups being almost as commonplace as Who reunions or Rolling Stones tours, it’s easy to write off such releases as “filler from the over-prolific.” That, of course, is not a bad thing, it just makes you question what kind of cohesion, what kind of band identity, there can be when the members of said band are all from other bands. Add Borknargar to my list of favorite black metal supergroups, alongside Arcturus (who’s screamer, Garm of Ulver, makes his presence known here as well) and War. The Olden Domain, while stylistically galloping all over the map, has a vibe, much like a concept album, which flows from beginning to end through emotional shifts, yet maintains a sense of unity throughout. At times thoughtful and quiet (at least, by metal standards), at others chaotic and roaring, and the rest, well, it moves the plot along. Like a movie, there are scenes of the ultraviolence matched with moments of catching one’s breath and pondering the implications of one’s actions, and then there’s the normal dialogue between characters which establishes personality and motive. Borknargar just seems to offer more throat-shredding howls to darkened skies, inner-demon roars, harmonized monkian chants, and eerie male choir accompaniments then your average movie.

Leading roles played by Garm (as previously noted), guitarist Oystein Brun (ex-Molested), keyboardist Ivar Bjornson (Enslaved), drummer Grim (ex-Immortal and Gorgoroth), and new bassist Kai Lee. (Grim and Garm in the same band? Is this the Nordic version of Bill & Ted?) Production, courtesy of an unnamed talent at Woodhouse Studios (damn these CM bios), is beautiful, engaging, and lifts this 45-minute “side project” to the status of gorgeous-yet-evil Epic Metal of the highest order.