Band: Borknagar
Title: Universal
Label: Indie Recordings
Distribution: Suburban
Release date: 19/02/2010
Review: CD

When the so-called ‘second wave’ within the Black Metal scene was a fact, Norway was one of the protagonists. Especially the Nordic Viking Black scene was of undeniable importance for the worldwide evolution, with bands as Einherjer, Enslaved, Satyricon, Arcturus, Allfader, Hades (Almighty), Mock / Kampfar, Ulver, and many, many others… In mean time, most of them did change their style (or they got dismantled, unfortunately), and the same goes for Borknagar.
This band evolved into a progressive-oriented one, combining its blackened roots with modern elements. I do prefer the early years (that’s the fact for all of higher mentioned bands that changed their original Viking-oriented style), but at the same time I did never dislike the new direction they went.
Like most former recordings, Universal is an impressing, rather bombastic masterpiece, with surprising elements, tons of changes in melody and tempo, the injection of acoustic and classical elements, magisterial keyboards, Prog-influences, varying vocals, and breath-taking solos.
Besides, the sound is powerful and overwhelming, yet the whole is not as complex as, let’s say, Empiricism (2001) or Epic (2004), yet without losing a certain experimental approach. That’s all right, to avoid getting nervous, because forty seven minutes isn’t that easy to get through such sonic pseudo-experiment.

Personal conclusion: acceptable, but certainly not Borknagar’s strongest recording to date!

80/100

Ivan Tibos.