Origin

Well, the title of the album may remind the listener to the first steps of the band, its roots... the single way of this band used to be. But, this is not what happened here.


This is not a bad album; the music is a mix of Neo-folk and something symphonic. It's a fact that Borknagar's Origin is not that kind of music. It would be considered folk sometimes before (I would consider it Viking as well, like Garm's old time) but never a complete folk band, or something totally converted to it.


The album has a clean production, all of the instruments are well listened and everything else, pure shit to say that bands must have a raw and lo-fi production to sound creative, Borknagar never needed this KVLT-ish stuff, and did not need here. The bass work is not quite impressive as it would be expected with Tyr's return to the band, the acoustic guitars obviously have stolen the scene, with the overture to others rhythm instruments, that were well used like cello and violin. Another missing point was the drums, Asgeir was kind of left behind, reduced to a downward the hype of "acoustic feeling".


So, the problem is installed basically with the total change of direction of music. It sounds like a forced incursion in a non-metal field. Vintersorg cleans vocals are great, but greater when combined with his growls and screams. It was one of the big mistakes. And just to salute one of contradictory good point here is the fact of Lazare singing just once, on the track called "White", making this the best song of the album. His vocals are simply great, and should be present more often on Borknagar's releases, it’s just awesome.


About the lyrics not too much to say, although they had lost the cosmic feeling and moved to a more heathen and naturalistic expression. But have not changed too much, keeping the "archaic stream".


To point the finally conclusions, the total folk acoustic sound is not pretty attractive, running away from bands purpose at all. And the unic highlight not present in other's release is Lars Nedland vocals on track 5. And about the new version of Ocean's Rise, I just must say that it with Vortex's voice sounds pretty much epic and sublime. This version is fine, but the old one is much better.