Borknagar – Fall Review

There is something beautiful about Borknagar’s career. In many ways, they’re a poster band for consistency. Their sound has evolved so much over the years that they probably lost a few second-wave-of-black-metal-die-hards. Still, for those of us who enjoy each era of the band, they do encompass what it means to churn out steady doses of great—at times, prog metal meets true Norwegian black metal meets viking metal meets whatever-else-they’re-feeling-at-that-exact-moment-in-time—music. And that’s truly what makes Borknagar such a spectacular band. Despite the various avenues of musical genres and sounds, they have made it work—an art in and of itself.

Dating back to the mid-’90s when Øystein Brun conjured up the idea for Borknagar and recruited members from other notable black metal purveyors, much of the sound was comparable to that of their peers, perhaps a little folkier and proggy. A foundation of black metal with a backdrop of prog, viking metal, and folk placed Borknagar in an admirable position in the Norwegian scene. As the years progressed, Borknagar would continue to shake soundscapes up, incorporating more melodies and clean singing and turning the prog notch up exponentially. As a Borknagar fan, I’ve cherished the most as of late the vocal duo of Lars Nedland and ICS Vortex, especially in the years following Vortex’s triumphant return a decade-and-a-half ago. But since discovering the band years ago, the true constant is my admiration for Brun’s guitar work and innovative songwriting.

I don’t have to dive too much deeper into the Borknagar discography. If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar. Anyway, their most recent releases were subjectively pleasant to my ears. True North was splendidly atmospheric and refreshing yet true to the sound they’ve developed over the years—the same with Urd and Winter Thrice. So, to say I was ecstatic to hear their newest release, Fall—going on five years in the making—is an understatement. And it didn’t disappoint. While somewhat of a spiritual successor to True North, as Brun has stated, Fall perfects the ideas found on that album and their earlier works, which creates a dynamic assortment of music and emotions, giving each moment substance.

Fall reminds us that Borknagar is almost unmatched regarding an album’s cadence. Immediately, “Summits” weaves a quilt with threads of aggressiveness and beauty with a triumphant tone. Again, going back to the interplay of vocal performances between Nedland and ICS Vortex, they dance together perfectly, almost like an endless, immaculate game of Pong. Once Bork moves onto the second track, “Nordic Anthem,” it’s a much more subdued, yet anthemic, tribal offering. As the band draws back from the aggression, it allows you to embrace just how talented they are at running their music through a filter of duality. Figuratively speaking, songs like “Summits,” supported by a more aggressive tone, are the enduring of brutal Scandinavian seasons. At the same time, efforts such as “Nordic Anthem” and “The Wild Lingers,” backed solely by tranquil, traditional cleans, are the admiration of its fierce beauty. The A-side’s closing track, “Moon,” follows a similar approach but much more sonically hopeful than the melancholic vibes on “Nordic Anthem.” And that guitar solo just one minute into the song? I mean, come on.

Songs like “Afar” eventually picks the pace back up with their primitive sound. Still, what stands out on this track, and other songs like “Stars Ablaze,” is how they continue to focus on their strengths as they pace a gradual climb with infectious and, at times, relentless force only to bring perfect balance to the cataclysm. Of course, the vocals contribute to this, but it would be a crime not to acknowledge the power of Brun’s gorgeous guitar tones and riffing and how he can somehow sonically capture both the ebb and flow of nature and the human experience. Ironically, Brun has mentioned throughout the press run of this album that Fall is, at the surface level, about the changing of the seasons. However, it also symbolizes surviving the struggle against the world around us. And just as the guitars climax and descend, they tell the story of the seasons and nature’s holistic yin and yang—a beautiful metaphor. I understand this may be my nerdy way of listening, but it brings the music to life in the same regard. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the breathtaking break at around the five-minute mark of “Afar.”

Perhaps the most proggy song on the album, “Unraveling,” is an earworm with groovy riffs and catchy hooks that will undoubtedly be a fan favorite in a live setting. As the song title suggests, the track unravels throughout its duration, consistently opening and closing doors to frigid and warm winds of sound. For those yearning for mid-’90s Borknagar, “Northward” awaits. It’s—without a shadow of a doubt—one of the best Bork songs in recent memory and the toast of Fall. The raspy screeches echo in the mix like a wounded animal. You can feel the coldness from the vocals to the rhythm section, and for nearly 10 minutes, the song is almost perfect. It truly captures each positive trait I’ve mentioned up to this point.

While the album is an astronomical feat alone, what may be even more impressive is that Borknagar churned out one of their best albums 30 years into their career. Fall is as calming as it is vicious. Of course, that’s what Borknagar does so well. Nature, the seasons, and life itself embody duality. The winters make us yearn for the summers, and loss leaves us searching for hope. In essence, that’s the balance Borknagar perfects here. The only downside is that once you listen to the album in its entirety, you’ll never be able to experience those initial waves of awe again. But that’s a downside I will—and I’m sure you will—gladly live with.