Borknagar - Fall

2024-02-20 08:00:39

The Norwegian masters of progressive extremes appear again. At Borknagar It tends to take a little longer, although the global events of the last few years have also left their mark. After an intermittent tour and various festival appearances, the new work began in various home studios, but changed during the joint recordings and tried to find new paths in familiar areas. Works accordingly „Fall“ like a record that is in constant flux and that is precisely why it contains so much tension.

The summit lurks right from the start as Borknagar sets their sights on the eight-minute “Summits”. Right from the start, things are astonishingly raw and rough, brutal and without regard for losses. Pagan and black sounds only leave the necessary space for anthemic clear singing late on, initially more facet than stylistic device, before the thing collapses in the middle. Whether this breakdown should have been so detailed and so reduced remains to be seen, but the appendix can entertain afterwards. “Unraveling” shows that it can be done in a nutshell with its neo-prog approaches, drooling interjections and lots of melody.

“Northward,” another giant, encapsulates all the power and energy of this record. In these ten minutes, Borknagar serve all starches, but also one or two lengths, which is something we don’t know from Norwegians. The long stay in graceful rigidity leaves some dynamism lacking, but the dramatic finale makes up for it. “True North”, on the other hand, strives for Viking metal, folky pagan energy and monumental power. Here too, despite the good beginnings, that certain something is missing that comes through, for example, in the subsequent “Afar” – a racing, wild tour de force between malice and anthemic synergy.

For the first time in eons, Borknagar actually doesn’t (quite) manage to live up to the class of its predecessors, despite complaints at a high level. “Fall” is still a really good album that seems unsurpassable in its brilliant moments, of monumental class, but also struggles with minor snags. The Viking and Pagan elements don’t really harmonize with even more classic prog rock moments, and this time the different worlds only come together to a limited extent. But it doesn’t matter, because the Norwegians still create an absolutely exceptional musical class. And yet: Things can still get a little better, although Borknagar are still doing damn well.

Rating: 8/10

Available from: February 23, 2024
Available via: Century Media (Sony Music)

Website: borknagar.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/borknagarofficial