Orsartag
Found Wisdom: Symphonic Tribute To Burzum


4.5
superb

Review

by Simon K. STAFF
May 21st, 2023 | 16 replies


Release Date: 04/14/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Burzum goes to the orchestra.

Found Wisdom: Symphonic Tribute to Burzum is an album no one asked for, but is evidently the record we all need in our lives. Orsartag has done an incredible job reinterpreting various-era Burzum tracks from the band’s broad catalogue of music, putting his own symphonic spin on it. The risk you run converting one of black metal’s most sinister and iconic sounds is, of course, it coming off as gimmicky. Thankfully, Orsartag has the talent worthy enough to make these renditions entirely their own beast. Found Wisdom: Symphonic Tribute to Burzum collects thirteen tracks from Burzum’s discography and, depending on which song you’re listening to, gives the track an entirely new lease of life. Tracks “Key to the Gate”, “Det Som En Gang Var”, “Drunkelheit” and “Ea, Lord of the Depths” are expertly purged of their seething bile, and the acrid presentation is extracted to reveal benign melodies under a cushion-soft production. The album can be so grand at times it’s to the point of absurdity – colossal orchestral compositions that explode on impact, sounding more like a video game score for The Legend of Zelda (“Key to the Gate” being a perfect example). Indeed, you have to take a step back sometimes, finding it hard to believe these tracks came from the black metal crypt.

The only downside to Found Wisdom: Symphonic Tribute to Burzum is it opts to redefine tracks from Burzum’s ambient eras, most notably Dauði Baldrs, then the far more interesting conversions made from the black metal eras. The ambient renditions are still great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s far less impact to the changes being made, they just feel like they’ve been transferred from a cheap synth to an orchestral sound, with a lot of the original presentation feeling unaltered; whereas with a song like “Det Som En Gang Var”, there’s so much energy and engagement coming from the translation, it sounds like you're listening to a score from a big Hollywood movie. Still, if nothing else, what Orsartag has managed to convey here is just how bloody good Burzum’s melodies are. It’s easy to overlook that aspect with all the lo-fi distortion, shrill screams, and ferocious blast beats, but I think one of the main reasons Burzum is hands down, bar none, my favourite black metal band is because Varg had a keen ear for melody and atmosphere, in spite of his abrasive proclivities. The results here display the pedigree of Burzum’s compositional and melodic work, especially from the seminal four albums from ’92-‘96. Hopefully this album gets some decent traction and Orsartag considers doing a follow-up to this with more of the black metal tracks in mind.

If you’re a fan of Burzum’s work, this is an essential listen for you. Found Wisdom: Symphonic Tribute to Burzum is filled with gorgeous orchestral instrumentation, epic crescendos and poignant atmosphere, but serves it up in a way fans are sure to appreciate. Orsartag has done a sterling job retaining the core integrity of the source material whilst simultaneously making his versions extremely different and exciting in the process. Definitely one to check out.




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user ratings (10)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
May 21st 2023


62343 Comments


nice review everything about this especially the Metropolis x Albert Speer fetish artwork and fash Hollywood factor looks like an instant 1 will investigate

NightOnDrunkMountain
Contributing Reviewer
May 21st 2023


841 Comments


Didn't know of this, wow

DadKungFu
Staff Reviewer
May 21st 2023


5489 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Was Albert Speer art deco or are you just making a nazi reference.



Heard this, was...ok. Made Daudi Baldrs tracks way less corny so hooray

Pho3nix
May 21st 2023


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Interesting! need to czech. Dunkelheit already sounds pretty cool. I like Der Tod Woutans too.



Thanks for the rev^

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
May 21st 2023


62343 Comments


"Was Albert Speer art deco or are you just making a nazi reference."

sizeable overlap tbh, both have a Fritz Lang obsession (contemporaneous with deco ig, won't split ends on that one)


Jasdevi087
May 21st 2023


8164 Comments


church constructing music

TheMonster
May 22nd 2023


241 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Agreed, more of the black metal tracks would have been interesting to hear. "Key to the Gate" is my favourite.

Naav
May 22nd 2023


1 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

It's nice that someone finally gave Burzum a modern sound, and I love ambient albums the most. So for me this is a very pleasant find.

TheMonster
May 22nd 2023


241 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

How he doesn't extend that Key to the Gate ending is beyond me. It's begging to be built up into something epic

garas
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2023


8179 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

A what??????? I'll jam this ASAP!

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2023


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Think you’ll dig garas

garas
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2023


8179 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Oooooohh yeeeeeeeeeees, I do. Der Tod Woutans hits all the right keys, for example.

Evreaia
May 23rd 2023


5405 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is really fucking cool

MoM
May 23rd 2023


5994 Comments


I like this! Brings the moods

Pho3nix
May 30th 2023


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah this was just average for me after the first listen. I would just listen to the actual OG tracks instead any given day, even if this project is interesting.

garas
Staff Reviewer
September 11th 2023


8179 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Dunkelheit sounds this way like it was taken from a very grim noir / crime movie's soundtrack.



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