Burzum – Det Som Engang Var - Album Streaming & Download

Origin : Norway

Genre : Black Metal / Ambient

Release : 1993

Album downloads only available to members

Album Info / Review

Intro:
Det Som Engang Var, the second full-length offering from Norwegian iconoclast Varg Vikernes, emerges from the shadows of early 90s black metal like a frostbitten spectre. Released in 1993, this album represents a crucial evolutionary step for Burzum, shedding some of the raw, almost demo-like rawness of its predecessor for a more defined, albeit still primal, sonic landscape. It’s a journey into the desolate, the ancient, and the deeply introspective, a soundscape forged in the crucible of Norwegian wilderness and a burgeoning, controversial ideology. This is not an album to be passively consumed; it demands active engagement with its bleak beauty and challenging atmosphere.

Track Analysis:
“Lost Wisdom”
The album opens with a sonic tremor. The tremolo-picked guitar riff, drenched in reverb and distortion, immediately establishes a sense of cold, relentless forward motion. Vikernes’ vocal delivery, a guttural rasp, feels less like a performance and more like an exorcism. The drumming, while simple, is propulsive, providing a tribalistic backbone. The mid-section introduces a slightly more melodic, yet still dissonant, guitar passage that hints at the melodic undertones that will become more prominent later in Burzum’s discography, but here it’s steeped in an overwhelming sense of despair.

“Svarte Troner”
This track plunges deeper into the abyss. The tempo shifts, allowing for a more brooding, almost doomy atmosphere to seep in. The guitar work becomes more layered, with a prominent, mournful lead melody weaving through the crushing rhythm. The vocals are more drawn-out, almost chanting, adding to the ritualistic feel. The sheer weight of the sound is palpable, creating an oppressive, yet strangely captivating, sonic environment.

“Han Som Hater Allting”
The title translates to “He Who Hates Everything,” and the music embodies this sentiment with chilling efficacy. The pace quickens, returning to a more aggressive, blast-beat driven attack. However, even in its ferocity, there’s an underlying melancholy. The guitar riffs are sharp and biting, but the underlying chord progressions carry a distinct sense of sorrow. The production, while still raw, allows for a greater clarity of instrumentation, making the impact of each distorted chord more profound.

“Key to the Gate”
This instrumental piece serves as a stark contrast and a vital breather. Gone are the vocals, replaced by a haunting, clean guitar melody. The atmosphere shifts from aggression to introspective melancholy. The arpeggiated notes echo with a profound sense of loneliness, painting a sonic picture of vast, empty landscapes. It’s a moment of quiet contemplation before the storm.

“Det Som Engang Var”
The title track is an epic in its own right. It builds gradually, starting with a more subdued, atmospheric guitar riff before erupting into a powerful, driving force. The vocals are at their most impassioned here, conveying a desperate plea or a furious lament. The interplay between the aggressive sections and the more melodic, almost sorrowful passages is masterful, showcasing Vikernes’ developing ability to craft dynamic and emotionally resonant black metal. The sheer length of the track allows for a thorough exploration of its thematic weight.

“Når Mørket Faller”
The album closer. This track feels like a final, lingering descent into the darkness. The tempo is generally slower, more deliberate, with a palpable sense of resignation. The guitar work is heavy and crushing, but there’s a lingering, ethereal quality to the melodies. The vocals are more distant, almost whispered at times, as if fading into the ether. It leaves the listener with a profound sense of emptiness and a chilling echo of what has transpired.

Conclusion:
Det Som Engang Var is a pivotal work in the Burzum discography and a significant artifact of early Norwegian black metal. It showcases Varg Vikernes’ evolution from a raw, unrefined sound to a more focused, albeit still intensely bleak, artistic statement. The album’s strength lies in its unwavering commitment to atmosphere, its exploration of themes of desolation and existential despair, and its surprisingly melodic undertones that are always subservient to the overwhelming sense of darkness. While the production remains lo-fi by contemporary standards, it is precisely this rawness that imbues the album with its primal power and authenticity. It’s a testament to the ability of extreme music to evoke profound emotional responses through sheer sonic force and thematic depth.