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Borknagar - The Archaic Course



8.1 | 196 votes |
Release date: 20 October 1998
Style: Melodic black metal, Progressive black metal

Owners:

254 have it
18 want it


01. Oceans Rise
02. Universal
03. The Witching Hour
04. The Black Token
05. Nocturnal Vision
06. Ad Noctum
07. Winter Millennium
08. Fields Of Long Gone Presence

Additional info
Recorded, mixed sand mastered at Woodhouse Studios between 17th of August and 5th of September 1998.
Recorded by Matthias Klinkmann.
Produced by Matthias Klinkmann and Borknagar.

Cover concepts by Borknagar.
Layout and desing by Carsten Drescher/Axel Hermann for Media Logistics.

Guest review by
TheAmazingP
Rating:
8.8
In general, "The Archaic Course" and "Olden Domain" are two different drops from the same pond. Both albums are totally "Borknagar", with all the chill of powerful riffs, expressive vocals and the warmth of emotions. However, this time something's changed. Judging from the first track of this album, it can easily be assumed that Borknagar actually broke the bonds of their previous eccentric black metal expressions and moved towards a more progressive direction, if it can be named so.

Read more ››
published 06.02.2009 | Comments (2)

Found in 7 lists
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Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 274 users
21.08.2012 - 17:30
Rating: 8
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
Very good album but I like the following one a bit more.
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"And we are not who we think we are
We are who we're afraid to be"
- Lux Occulta "The Opening of Eleventh Sephirah"
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14.11.2013 - 14:27
Rating: 8
musicalkaratekid

Excellent album, and perfects the first trio of Borknagar albums, proving to be just as vital as the band's self titled and "The olden domain". Here we have much more atmospheric and epic material than ever before, and for that reason, it works very nicely indeed. The clean vocals seem to have taken on more of a prominent approach, particularly in songs such as 'Universal', 'The witching hour' and 'Nocturnal vision', though the harsher style is still there to make sure the band don't wander too far from their BM roots. My personal highlights are 'Universal' which has a grandiose sweep throughout and the somewhat progressive 'Ad Noctum', which features a suitable use of symphonic material. My only problem here is that sometimes the clean vocals sound a little shaky and weak, but only when compared to the harsher style.
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28.01.2015 - 23:13
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
IMO this band and this album specifically problem was or is , people expected hear black metal, and this band is not BM, only 1th album, so, its prog black even we know such genre don't exist
I didn't like it ok Borknagar as Borknagar, but still this album is week, I didn't like it so much , next one is much much better
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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09.11.2015 - 03:16
Rating: 7
masterofdisguise

My least favorite bork album, even though I have not heard their entire discography. Don't get me wrong, it's a good album for sure, but next one is way better. The black token best track.
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