Filosofem (Reissue)

VINYL FORMAT. Import deluxe reissue; 1000 copies on clear vinyl! 'With Filosofem, Varg Vikernes has created yet another masterpiece under the name of Burzum. Though this is album is less darkly triumphant and melancholic than Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, it still manages to reach such a level of power and beauty that no listener can be unaffected by it. On Filosofem, Varg switches his vocal style to a more typical form of distorted narration. It is still, however, far from the cliché screams of most black metal bands, and is quite effective. It takes away from the violence of the music, leaving much of Burzum's roots behind. Interestingly, several of the songs for Filosofem were written during the time period in which Burzum's self-titled album was released. The most prominent and commanding aspect of Filosofem is the fathomless and washing structure of layered guitar parts that inspire hypnosis and reflection on the listener's part. It is impossible to tell exactly how many guitar tracks are on this album, but there are many "hidden" melodies that only surface when the listener tunes their ears exactly right to the harmonics and washing modal interactions that drive each song. They keyboards enhance this feeling by providing a minimalistic structural curtain onto which the abstract, loose guitar parts may adhere. Varg's synth work never becomes overbearing, however - it always serves as a simplistic form of melodic structure rather than a bombastic and didactic display of classical or folk influences.

Some of the songs on Filosofem are quite dark - "Jesu Død" for example, refers back to the driving double bass and haunting melody of the song "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss." It is applied in an altogether new atmosphere, however. Filosofem seems to be much less sorrowful and more reminiscent and reflective than any of its predecessors. In an odd way, this album is very peaceful. Included on Filosofem are two structurally similar, drumless, ambient-noise influenced songs, "Decrepitude I" and "Decrepitude II." Through the softly trickling noises and completely abstract, washing guitar sounds, Varg admonishes: "Beware of the light. . . it will take you away, to where no evil dwells." Also included is the 25-minute epic isolationist piece, "Rundgåing Av Den Transcendentale Egenhetens Støtte." This song is very minimalistic and "deep" sounding, much in the vein of "Tomhet" from Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. These more ambient-leaning songs add to the thoughtful feeling of Filosofem, and help to establish a more peaceful atmosphere, in stark contrast to Varg's early works on Burzum and Det Som Engang Var. On the whole, Filosofem seems to be a final reflection for Burzum; it has long since resigned its violence, it has more recently given up its anger and sorrow, and now simply looks back into the past with emptiness and reflection. As Varg says so masterfully: "And every night, there's a different black; and every night, I wish that I was back to the time when I rode through the forests of old." Filosofem will forever be looked upon as one of the last masterpieces of black metal; this album is truly necessary for all fans of black metal as well as intelligent, philosophical musicians in general.' - Derek Schultz / Tartarean Desire