Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

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Band
Borknagar
Title
Universal
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2010
Style
Heavy/Extreme
6/15/2010 - Review by: Raising Iron

Borknagar
Universal

Company: Self Released
Release: 2010
Genre: Extreme, Death
Reviewer: Raising Iron

  • Found a sweet spot few can unearth



  • Alright, let me just say right off, despite their somewhat spotty back catalog and an endless array of style changes, Borknagar have never failed to surprise their fan base always intent on exploring new territory regardless of what the flavor of the day is. They left that behind with their blackened roots long ago, and with their newest release, Universal, the guys have found a progressive/extreme/blackened/viking/folk (ha!) sweet spot few can unearth.

    Seriously folks, this is metal of a higher order. Everything about this album is right, from the blast beats swelling underneath strung-out melodies to the effectively placed choral "oohs and aahs", it's hard to find a flaw. Detractors will point out the near-absent black tremolos and rasps, but this Borknagar is a far cry from where they started. Universal is an album reminiscent of other genial releases in the last couple of years (see Opeth's Watershed, Enslaved's Vertebrae, or Ihsahn's After), with its purposeful exploration of undulating textures and moods within a single song.

    The Norwegians, through a mix of clean and growled vocals and plenty of keyboards sprinkled throughout, achieve their goal of weighty and introspectively virulent metal, yet at the same time remaining classy and refined. Eight tracks at 47 minutes is none too overbearing either, the songs clipping along nicely taking you along their destined courses, allowing for enough to enjoy the aural vibes without getting repetitive or boring. The fourth track, "For A Thousand Years" reminds one somewhat of Mastodon in their current incarnation, but even more full-flavored and textured. The opening track sets the tone for the entire album with its large, ever-moving themes, and the epic "Abrasion Tide" will carry you through a multitude of swirling currents settling in moments to regain your grip.

    This is definitely a highlight of 2010 and a nice surprise from the long-running outfit who've now found themselves on a new label (after 6 albums Century Media are no longer in the picture) and maybe that's just the catalyst the band needed to take this next step into the upper echelon of extreme metal.


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: BORKNAGAR
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Universal
    2010
    Independent
    Raising Iron6/15/2010
    4.5
    Urd
    2012
    Century Media
    Greg Watson3/30/2012
    5
    Winter Thrice
    2016
    Century Media
    Greg Watson7/24/2016
    4

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: BORKNAGAR
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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