- Filosofem review
| Band: | Burzum |
| Album: | Filosofem |
| Style: | Black metal |
| Release date: | 1996 |
01. Dunkelheit
02. Jesus' Tod
03. Erblicket Die Töchter Des Firmaments
04. Gebrechlichkeit I
05. Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Säule Der Singularität
06. Gebrechlichkeit II
A pair of empty eyes, on a face absent of any trace of...life?
This is the image that comes to my mind as the first chord of Dunkelheit is picked, and persists, with different variations, throughout this jewel. An incomplete, and yet, mature and developed album, Filosofem must be the Count's deepest creation.
Most of its charm comes from the way it has been recorded. Black Metal has always been about atmosphere, and honestly, one can almost see the darkness while listening to Filosofem.
The first track, Dunkelheit, presents layer upon layer of crippling, tar thick distorsion, with a keyboard popping up every now and then, almost like a spectre through the night. Varg's vocals are colder than ever, repeating on and on his state of mind and the flow of his thoughts, as the night falls.
Jesu Dod. And that's it. The drums on this track might very well be a drum machine, but no matter, the rhythm they supply is a grinding killer of neck muscles. The guitar work is a lot faster, standard black metal tremolo picking but with a certain "colour" that only Filosofem seems to have. It somehow reminds me of Lovecraft's "colour out of space". The vocals are pure hate, making blood run cold. A very long track, with little variation, that doesn't grow boring at all, in fact, it grips you tighter and tighter, draining all the light from your mind.
From this point on, the album takes a lot more of a sinister side. Beholding The Daughter Of The Firmaments is a song that once again slows down, presenting some of Varg's most inspired lyrical content. Decrepitude goes down even more, coming close to a dark ambient track. It's chilling, the eerie keyboard, the grinding slow guitar, the horrified, degenerated screams. This is what Black Metal was always supposed to be. No more, no less.
The last parts are kind of odd, a 25 minute ambient track with little change throughout, I've never quite understood its purpose. I believe it's there to fill up the space honestly and Decrepitude II is just the instrumental part of Decrepitude I.
A conclusion? A horrifying album, as dark and sinister as it could ever possibly be.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by NECURATU | 08.02.2007
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
5.0
5.0
|
Rating: 5.0 |
The universe, perfectly balanced as Thanos would want it. I immediately liked Thanos in Infinity War and it was the first time I had heard of him or seen him; can't wait for the End Game come April. I now no longer agree with Thanos that the universe should be perfectly balanced; excess and scarcity are what make life worth living. This album is the perfect balance between three excellent tracks and three mind-numbingly horrible tracks: the best album to be rated at exactly 5.0. Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments: 26
Visited by: 340 users
| Katatronik Angel of Lust Posts: 1018  |
Wonderful, amazing album, the last great Burzum album IMO (I don't like very much the ambient albums)... I'd give an higher vote, especially in songwriting and overall impression...
---- "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." Howard Phillips Lovecraft
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| villain Posts: 238  |
Its a big step away from Hvis Lyset tar Oss - but it isa great album nevertheless -with a slower and more droning sound. It resembles a distorted vision of a far away world (typical of burzum) but seems to be more abstract.
---- Suddenly........ Life has new meaning
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| Fane Posts: 292  |
I guess I won't ever get bored to this album.. It just has that something in it. Maybe it's Varg's vocals?
---- Coffee for power Music for creativity Sarcasm for fun
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| Piro Posts: 301  |
I simply LOVE the song Lost Wisdom. Its a good album allround though.
---- <Philosophy>Insert Intelligent Sounding yet meaningless Philosophical Quote Here</Philosophy>
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| Lucas Mr. Noise Elite Posts: 13427  |
Written by Piro on 23.12.2007 at 03:14 Which is not on this album.. 
---- SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?  "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18274  |
Maybe it's not the best one of Burzum... But it has the best production and vocal work IMO Just listen to Dunkelheit... The way Varg sing that song.. the lyrics... everything so organic, cold and cruel... I love it!!! I want to buy this one.. even if R.U.D.T.S.D.S is one of the worst instrumentals that i heard in my life xD¨ The rest is exellent....
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Piro Posts: 301 |
It is on the Remastered Version, the one released in 2002.
---- <Philosophy>Insert Intelligent Sounding yet meaningless Philosophical Quote Here</Philosophy>
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| W-Lash Metal Master Posts: 2531  |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 19.01.2008 at 22:01 I totally agree. The only one album that has good vocals.
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| Metalhead2 Skinhead1 Posts: 271  |
 Varg Vikernesfirst 2 tracks something the most amazing i have everd heard
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| Marcus Doit Like Bernie Posts: 642  |
Yeah, the first half of the album struck me as immense, but the second half is so repetitive that is somewhat lost interest, it was like decent doom metal at best. Varg's vocal work on the first 2 tracks are very amazing though.
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| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
well...compared to all the previous.. i would say that this album is the worst from Burzum. Not for beeing bad, but only the three first tracks work out.. i didnt like the rest... still great work as always. 25 minutes to ''Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Saule Der Singularitat''... with all the atmosphere of the world in it.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18274 |
I think that this album is really really good. The first 4 songs are masterpieces IMO each one of them But the 25 intrumental is just to much... and the second instrumental is just ok... not bad, but it's the same thing as the firs part of Gebrechlichkeit but without the great vocals... This is still a great album and I will definetely buy it.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Metalhead2 Skinhead1 Posts: 271 |
about instrumental tracks, i prefer Tomhet from Hvis Lyset Tar Oss. Varg Vikernes
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| Berfones Posts: 354  |
"I wander how life would be with a death that I shall never see I wonder why life must be lasting on eternaly..."
---- Thine truly,ancient evil overlord
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| Hamird Lieutenant Posts: 2564  |
This album is what never wont be repeated! This was my debut with Black Metal. First black metal album that I've got and listened was this, and I really enjoyed and a funny memory from this album, was that I was listening to "Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Saule Der Singularitat" and it didn't finished  It was amazing to listen to Jesu Tod after Dunkelheit, it was a kind of harmony...
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18274 |
I found this album and bought it... Finally. This album is pure magic. I listened it just an hour ago and I'm feel very strange. The vocals and the wall of sound that the guitarrs and the drums creatre is just haunting. And something very strange happened: I liked the 25-minute instrumental. I spend that time reading the norwegian text that are put along the lyrics and that instrumental seemed very cold and calm. Decrepitude II seemed also very good. It doesn't have the vocals and the guitars are secondary. But some keyboards are more precent. Very good atmosphere. I love this album. PS: And the artwork is simply awesome
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Dark Seraphim Posts: 70  |
Filosofem was the first Burzum album I bought and still remains my favourite. It is so beautiful in it's darkness. The packaging was awesome too.
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| worm_is_gloaming Posts: 150  |
Perfect review that sums up everything I've felt about this album. I find it harder to listen to than other Burzum creations, for the reason that it is his deepest and most anguishingly introspective work, and it shows in every note of it - one has to be in a very particular state of mind in order to take all of it in and be deeply moved by it, a very intent and personal listening experience.
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| ms68 Posts: 260  |
When i'm listening to Jesus' Tod it usually lates more than 40min. because it really blows my mind away and i can't do anything but repeating track and using my imagination about atmosphere varg wanted to draw in listener's mind
---- The more you eat, the more you shit No matter what you eat, it all turns to shit
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| Maxx666 Meshuggahian Posts: 376  |
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| Ellrohir Heaven Knight Posts: 8662  |
"Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Saule Der Singularitat" - epic sequel to "Tomhet" from previous album...twice as lasting and twice as mind blowing love it 
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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| Smurfophagist Posts: 1069  |
I somehow feel that I haven't paid this album the respect it deserves...I should listen to it again
---- Having a signature is an absolute must.
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| Slayer666 Posts: 2466  |
This is the shit...Some of Burzum's greatest work, and that's saying something... Although. it could use just a tiny bit better production.
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| Cuca Beludo Account deleted |
Cuca Beludo
Account deleted
That's how black metal have to sound: RAW! Really, I am loving all of this. When it comes to black metal, Varg and Quorthon were the best! Also, the track number 5. is good to listen before sleep...  But, you could have given this album a better note, like... 10  This is the best black metal album along with Bathory's "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark".
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Written by Guest on 01.12.2011 at 22:44 Burzum is actually far less raw in comparison to a lot of black metal bands.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| @gent_-_orange Posts: 905  |
This is Burzum's most consistent album which is not saying much because IMO the final two songs are nothing but filler. But if I had to get a Burzum album its would be this one.
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