Norway’s avant-garde black metal innovators BORKNAGAR have just released their 25th anniversary re-issue of their pioneering self-titled debut album worldwide today via the band’s longtime label partner Century Media Records. To celebrate the release, the band have released a new visualizer clip for their track “Dauden (Remaster 2021)”, which was created by Wanderley Perna / W Designer to get an impression of Borknagar (25th Anniversary Re-issue 2021. Check out the visualizer clip below:
BORKNAGAR founder and mastermind Øystein G. Brun states, “If there is one song that has shaped my sound and inspired my career as a musician that is “Dauden”. Even though this was not the first song written for the debut, “Dauden” was the first song I carved out on my, then newly bought, Fostex multitrack recorder. This opened a new world to me, to be able to sit in solitude and work out layers of guitar arrangements without the typical fuzz and chaos of a rehearsal room. I still remember the grandiose feeling of musical excitement when the mid-section of this song fell into place. A notion that music can derive from “nothing” to become an entity bigger than life. This exact notion has kept my flame burning throughout all these years. Furthermore, when first talking with Kristoffer “Garm” Rygg about him doing the vocals and joining the band, “Dauden” was the song we were talking about, this was the musical trigger so to speak. He was seriously into this song. And I can clearly remember as if it was yesterday, Garm dancing around in studio in awe doing choirs. There was something magical about this one…And still is!”
Øystein G. Brun adds, “Throughout the years I have received countless requests for a re-release of this album…but because this album represents such a personal and treacherous part of my life, I wanted it to be done with dignity. And here we are: This is the definitive re-release of the debut album of BORKNAGAR. This release contains a genuine re-master of the debut album, based on the original mix tapes. This has been done with the uttermost care and love by yours sincerely to maintain the original sound and flavour of the album, and solely to improve the listening experience. Working on this re-release has been an emotional ride. While always maintaining a good feeling about the project it has been times of frustration and technical obstacles. Hours has been spent finding and compiling old pictures, dealing with tapes and equipment that has not been played or used in over 25 years. But now it is done, and I hope you all enjoy and appreciate this release as much as I do.”
Initially released in 1996, Borknagar saw Øystein G. Brun recruiting a phenomenal cast of like-minded musicians, such as Garm (Ulver, ex Arcturus) doing the vocals, drummer Grim (ex-Immortal, Gorgoroth and Ancient), Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved) on keyboards and bassist Infernus (Gorgoroth), to enter the notorious halls of Grieghallen Studios with the goal of rupturing the peripheries of what was then deemed “traditional” Black Metal.
The new deluxe edition of the album, entitled Borknagar (25th Anniversary Re-issue 2021), marks the definitive version of this pioneering Norwegian Metal classic, and includes a careful remaster of the 10 track LP courtesy of Øystein G. Brun, a makeover for the original artwork, profound liner notes, exclusive photos and a bonus disc full of previously unheard material from the band vaults. The limited Digipak 2CD (with 12 bonus tracks / 60 min.) and the limited Gatefold 2LP on 180g black vinyl (with 8 bonus tracks / 37 min.) can be ordered HERE.
Borknagar (25th Anniversary Re-issue 2021) Digipak 2CD Digipak & Digital Album tracklisting:
CD 1 – “Borknagar (Remaster 2021)” (44:47):
1. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Remaster 2021) (06:47)
2. Tanker mot Tind – Kvelding (Remaster 2021) (03:43)
3. Svartskogs Gilde (Remaster 2021) (05:52)
4. Ved Steingard (Remaster 2021) (02:18)
5. Krigsstev (Remaster 2021) (02:02)
6. Dauden (Remaster 2021) (05:49)
7. Grimskalle Trell (Remaster 2021) (05:39)
8. Nord Naagauk (Remaster 2021) (03:07)
9. Fandens Allheim (Remaster 2021) (06:22)
10. Tanker mot Tind – Gryning (Remaster 2021) (03:01)
CD 2 – “Borknagar (25th Anniversary Bonus Material)” (60:17):
1. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (06:46)
2. Svartskogs Gilde (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
3. Krigsstev (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (02:02)
4. Dauden (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
5. Grimskalle Trell (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:45)
6. Fandens Allheim (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:53)
7. Ved Steingard (Alternate Mix) (02:13)
8. Nord Naagauk (Alternate Mix) (03:28)
9. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Rehearsal 1994) (06:59)
10. Grimskalle Trell (Rehearsal 1994) (06:14)
11. Ved Steingard (First ever recording 1994) (02:18)
12. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Alternate Mix) (06:49)
“Borknagar (25th Anniversary Re-issue 2021)” – Gatefold 2LP:
LP 1 – “Borknagar (Remaster 2021)” (44:45):
Side A (20:43):
1. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Remaster 2021) (06:47)
2. Tanker mot Tind – Kvelding (Remaster 2021) (03:43)
3. Svartskogs Gilde (Remaster 2021) (05:52)
4. Ved Steingard (Remaster 2021) (02:18)
5. Krigsstev (Remaster 2021) (02:02)
Side B (24:01):
1. Dauden (Remaster 2021) (05:49)
2. Grimskalle Trell (Remaster 2021) (05:39)
3. Nord Naagauk (Remaster 2021) (03:07)
4. Fandens Allheim (Remaster 2021) (06:22)
5. Tanker mot Tind – Gryning (Remaster 2021) (03:01)
LP 2 – “Borknagar (25th Anniversary Bonus Material)” (37:35):
Side C (20:31):
1. Vintervredets Sjelesagn (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (06:46)
2. Svartskogs Gilde (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
3. Krigsstev (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (02:02)
4. Dauden (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
Side D (17:03):
1. Grimskalle Trell (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:45)
2. Fandens Allheim (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:53)
3. Ved Steingard (Alternate Mix) (02:13)
4. Nord Naagauk (Alternate Mix) (03:10)
