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| Burzum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Burzum |
| Origin | Kvam |
| Years active | 1991–1999, 2003–2009, 2018–present |
| Labels | Deathlike Silence Productions, Misanthropy Records, Cymophane Productions, Byelobog Productions |
| Associated acts | Mayhem, Old Funeral, Dimmu Borgir |
Burzum is a Norwegian musical project founded and principally composed by Varg Vikernes (born Kristian Vikernes). Emerging during the early 1990s Norwegian black metal scene alongside acts such as Mayhem, Emperor, Darkthrone, and Immortal, the project became synonymous with lo-fi production, ambient interludes, and a controversial public profile tied to church arsons and violent conflict. Burzum's recordings and activities intersect with labels, studios, and figures like Deathlike Silence Productions, Euronymous, Misanthropy Records, and Pytten at Grieg Hall-era studios.
Burzum was formed in 1991 by Varg Vikernes after his time in Old Funeral and collaborations with members of Mayhem and Saturnus. The first self-titled album was recorded for Deathlike Silence Productions and produced within the milieu that included Euronymous of Mayhem and engineers connected to the Bergen scene. During 1992–1993 the project released albums such as Filosofem and Det som engang var through relationships with Misanthropy Records and independent distributors; recordings often utilized low fidelity studio techniques associated with the black metal movement. In 1993 Vikernes was arrested and later convicted in connection with the murder of Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous) and a series of church burnings that targeted structures like Fantoft Stave Church; these events led to imprisonment and interruptions in Burzum's public activity. While incarcerated Vikernes continued to compose and release material, using correspondents and DIY production channels to issue albums such as Hvis lyset tar oss and ambient works later compiled or reissued by labels including Cymophane Productions. After early release in 2009 Vikernes resumed activity in Norway, issuing electronic and ambient releases and reviving some archival material; the project's timeline intersects with legal disputes over music rights and reissues managed by labels like Byelobog Productions.
Burzum's sound combined elements drawn from early Norwegian and European extreme metal bands such as Bathory, Venom, and Hellhammer with atmospheric elements influenced by composers and artists outside metal, including minimalists and ambient figures whose names were cited by Vikernes. The early Burzum albums established hallmarks: tremolo-picked guitar riffs, raw drum production, distant and shrieked vocals comparable to those used by Mayhem and Emperor, and extended ambient tracks akin to works by Brian Eno and electronic composers. Production aesthetics shared affinities with other scene releases on labels like Deathlike Silence Productions and No Fashion Records, emphasizing deliberate lo-fi textures and spatial reverb created in studios associated with producers such as Pytten. Lyrical themes referenced Norse mythology, heathenry, paganism, and literary sources including medieval sagas and poets; comparable thematic interests appear across projects by Enslaved and neo-folk artists like Death in June. Later Burzum output incorporated synth-based ambient and electronic instrumentation similar to artists on niche labels such as Cold Meat Industry and intersected with trends in dark ambient and dungeon synth exemplified by acts like Mortiis.
Selected studio albums and notable releases include: - Burzum (1992) — released on Deathlike Silence Productions; seminal black metal recordings that paralleled early works by Mayhem and Darkthrone. - Det som engang var (1993) — continued raw black metal approach; contemporaneous with releases by Enslaved and Immortal. - Hvis lyset tar oss (1994) — recorded prior to incarceration; regarded as influential alongside albums by Bathory and Dissection. - Filosofem (1996) — includes extended ambient passages; linked stylistically to ambient pioneers like Brian Eno. - Dauði Baldrs (1997) — ambient synth album composed and recorded during imprisonment; reflects minimal electronic approaches akin to Tangerine Dream-influenced aesthetics. - Hliðskjálf (1999) — continued ambient and synth explorations. - Post-2009 releases and reissues managed by Byelobog Productions and other independent labels include compilations, remasters, and newly produced material showing electronic and dungeon synth tendencies.
Burzum's profile is inseparable from the legal case surrounding Varg Vikernes: his 1994 conviction for the murder of Øystein Aarseth (Euronymous) of Mayhem and for arson of multiple churches such as Fantoft Stave Church led to a prison sentence that reshaped the Norwegian black metal narrative. The case involved high-profile investigations connected to the Norwegian police and judiciary, and attracted coverage from media outlets and documentaries about the scene including references to figures like Ian Christie in music journalism. Post-release, Vikernes has been involved in further legal scrutiny related to hate speech and online statements in several jurisdictions, prompting debates involving free expression and laws such as those enforced in France and Norway. Rights disputes over master recordings and reissue authorizations emerged between Vikernes and labels like Misanthropy Records, leading to litigation and negotiations typical of archival metal releases.
Musically, Burzum is cited as a cornerstone of the second-wave black metal movement alongside Mayhem, Darkthrone, and Emperor, influencing generations of acts in black metal, ambient, dungeon synth, and neofolk scenes including Summoning, Agalloch, and Wolves in the Throne Room. Labels and producers that worked with or reissued Burzum releases—such as Misanthropy Records and Cymophane Productions—helped transmit the project's aesthetic internationally across scenes in Germany, United Kingdom, United States, and Poland. The project's ambient works contributed to the rise of dungeon synth and dark ambient microgenres, informing artists and labels in underground networks like Cold Meat Industry and independent vinyl collectives. The controversies surrounding the project's founder continue to provoke discourse in music criticism, cultural studies, and legal analysis involving scholars who examine extremism in subculture, including comparisons with other contentious musical figures from scenes connected to punk rock and metal history. Overall, Burzum's sonic and extramusical footprint remains a contested but influential element in extreme music historiography.
Category:Norwegian black metal bands