Burzum

This article is about the one-man music project. For more details and biography on its founder, see Varg Vikernes. For the song, see Filosofem.
Burzum
Burzum logo (1991 to 1993)
Burzum logo (1991 to 1993)
Background information
OriginBergen, Norway
Genres
Years active
  • 1991–2000
  • 2009–2020
  • 2023–2024
Labels
MembersVarg Vikernes
Websiteburzum.org

Burzum (/ˈbɜːrzəm/; Norwegian: [ˈbʉ̀rtsʉm]) is a Norwegian music project founded by Varg Vikernes in 1991. Although Burzum never played live performances, it became a staple of the early Norwegian black metal scene and is considered one of the most influential acts in black metal's history.[4][5][6][7] The word "burzum" means "darkness" in the Black Speech, a fictional language crafted by The Lord of the Rings writer J. R. R. Tolkien.[8][9] Burzum's lyrics and imagery are often inspired by fantasy and Norse mythology.[10]

Vikernes founded Burzum in 1991 and recorded the first four Burzum albums between January 1992 and March 1993. From 1994 to 2009, Vikernes was imprisoned for the murder of Mayhem guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth and the arson of eight churches. While imprisoned, he recorded two dark ambient albums using only synthesizers, as he had no access to drums, guitar, or bass.

Since his release from prison in 2009, he has recorded several more albums, including those in the dark ambient and neofolk genres. Vikernes ended the Burzum project in 2020 before announcing a new album in 2024.

  1. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Burzum - Sôl Austan, Mâní Vestan review". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. ^ Spracklen, Karl (2014). "True Norwegian Black Metal". Sounds and the City: Popular Music, Place and Globalization. Springer. p. 194.
  3. ^ "Burzum - The Ways of Yore". Allmusic. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. ^ Dunn, Sam (2005). Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (motion picture). Canada.
  5. ^ Patterson, Dayel (20 July 2016). "20 of the best black metal albums from the 1990s". Team Rock.
  6. ^ Hopper, Jessica (29 August 2013). "The Complicated Appeal of Black Metal". BuzzFeed.
  7. ^ Sigel, Zack (7 August 2015). "Are Music Streaming Services Doing More Harm Than Good To The Metal Community?". VH1. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022.
  8. ^ Kuusela, Tommy (2015). "'Dark Lord of Gorgoroth': Black Metal and the Works of Tolkien". In Van Zon, Cecile; Vink, Renee (eds.). Lembas Extra: Unexplored Aspects of Tolkien and Arda: Edition 2015 (PDF). Netherlands: Productie Boekscout. pp. 89–119. ISBN 978-94-022-1557-1.
  9. ^ Vikernes, Varg (December 2004). "A Burzum Story: Part I". burzum.org. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  10. ^ Von Helden, Imke (2017). Norwegian Native Art: Cultural Identity in Norwegian Metal Music. LIT Verlag. pp. 35, 179.