Borknagar question regarding the musicians

RobLoge85 · Post by **RobLoge85** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:30 pm

I enjoy their music a lot but I was curious to how they are on a talent level compared to a lot of other musicians.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:37 pm

Hmm, never heard of them. Any (legal) samples to point the unaware (like myself) to?

RobLoge85 · Post by **RobLoge85** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:10 pm

You won't like them unless you're into black metal and stuff like that but here are a few:

http://mp3.centurymedia.com/Borknagar_T ... TheEnd.mp3
http://mp3.centurymedia.com/Borknagar_T ... nsRise.mp3
http://mp3.centurymedia.com/borknagar_Q_revolt.mp3
http://mp3.centurymedia.com/Borknagar_S ... ricism.mp3
http://mp3.centurymedia.com/Borknagar-F ... e-Epic.mp3

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm

RobLoge85 wrote:You won't like them unless you're into black metal and stuff like that but here are a few

No need to say that. There's people open-minded enough to not get too prejudiced at the sight of a niche kind of music...

Besides, you asked how they fare on a talent level compared to a lot of other musicians.

***

I'd say, professional enough. They definitely hold themselves in decent composure.

On the other hand, there's not much that I haven't heard before in musical terms. I certainly wouldn't call them incredibly daring or original musically. They seem to use certain typical elements of this type of music decently, have some nice interludes and interesting keyboard texturs thrown in, but all in all it's just, you know, metal, with typical 'musically-correct' chord progressions, usual drumming/guitar/vocal styles, and all these other elements.

So, I'd call them professional musicians, no more, no less.

If you're at all interested in opinions from the 'left', that is...

Farlo · Post by **Farlo** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:50 pm

Otohiko wrote:Hmm, never heard of them. Any (legal) samples to point the unaware (like myself) to?

yeah, im not sure you'd appreciate the band very much..

as for the question at hand, the musicality is above average for the genre,

id have to recommend windir for best of black metal,
immortal is also quite good both band demonstrate knowledge if thier instruments.

finntroll is a bit more of an aquired taste, but the playing is very good as well.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:55 pm

Farlo wrote: yeah, im not sure you'd appreciate the band very much..

Actually, the samples were generally pretty good. I liked the first 3 in particular.

I'm a sucker for musical sampling, but you probably know that. Such a shame my bandwith is crap

Kai Stromler · Post by **Kai Stromler** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:21 am

No, the thing is that black metal fans who enjoy superior musicianship are extremely high on this band. Oystein's guitar style and tone, at least on the first two discs (Borknagar and The Olden Domain; he's gotten more conventional lately and doesn't have to hold the band up as much) is literally like nothing else; Primordial gets kind of close at times, but at least in the more viking early context, Oystein's self-devised guitar method really shines across.

The band is a bit of a supergroup; Oystein is about the only member to have played in the band who had not had great success elsewhere. It's pretty much natural that the talent level is a little higher.

If there's three essential black metal songs for musicality, they're probably Borknagar's "The Winterway", Dissection's "Night's Blood", and Immortal's "At The Heart Of Winter". For more unconventional musicianship, albums to look up would be Enslaved's Mardraum, Sigh's Hail Horror Hail, and Nokturnal Mortum's To The Gates of Blasphemous Fire.

*it should be noted that the poster has been a diehard Borknagar fan since 1998

--K

Farlo · Post by **Farlo** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:27 am

id post samples of the songs kai said, but the demonseal is currently down =\

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:29 am

I heard one Borknagar album, didn't like it, and never bothered to listen again. However, I'm not saying they aren't talented. I did like some of their music, but their vocals never attracted me at all.