Burzum

Hlioskjalf (Misanthropy)
by Scott Hefflon

For those who live under a rock, Norway’s Varg Vikernes of Burzum is the guy who’s in prison for killing Oysten of Mayhem, the “kingpin” during the mid-’90s of the black metal scene and, to an extent, its father. This record is an instrumental – keyboard and computers – based on the myths surrounding the death of the Norse God, Wuotan. Or it’s a long, kinda dull, occasionally spooky record that’s probably OK for role-playing or gettin’ all deep and metaphysical to, and sounds like Mortiis and, um, Tangerine Dream. Mortiis was in Emperor, another old school black metal band (like I need to tell you that), but his output’s always sounded like Nintendo vs. Casio to me. Is Hlidskjalf any good? Hell, the first few songs have low notes held long and dramatic, sprinkled with that wind chime thing I kinda like, but after a while, the drone become kernels of Halloween candy corn, and my teeth start to ache.
(PO Box 9 Hadleigh Suffolk IP7 5AU England)