Band:	Burzum
Album:	Det Som Engang Var
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	August 1993
Guest review by:	Himann

01. Den Onde Kysten
02. Key To The Gate
03. En Ring Til Å Herske
04. Lost Wisdom
05. Han Som Reiste
06. Når Himmelen Klarner
07. Snu Mikrokosmos Tegn
08. Svarte Troner

The album starts off like an endless void which builds into harsh Black Metal with a touch of depression and agony which is the reputed trademark of a Burzum album. From start to finish, this album is a roller coaster of emotions and raw music which will take you to a place deep into Middle Earth if you're a Tolkien fan. If not, it really doesn't matter as this album's depressive and aggressive combination will blow your mind towards the outer realms of Saturn. "Det Som Engang Var" (''What Once Was'') is medieval and transcends humanity and all links with the present world you live in.

This album is built in such a way that some tracks are alternately Ambient while the others are alternatively Black Metal. Four of the tracks are Black Metal and the other four are instrumental.

The intro sets you up towards experiencing the depressive nature of this album and just gives puts you into a medieval mood while you glance at the cover and begin to see what this is all about. "Key To The Gate" virtually rips through the melancholy and starts off with a fast, chaotic seizure of mad lycanthropy and elaborate dynamics evocative of old Bathory. Later this morphs into a slow melancholic dirge with wailing, melodic lead guitar. "Lost Wisdom" too is in this vein and cuts through the eerie atmosphere which the instrumentals had set up.

"Han Som Reiste" and "En Ring Til Aa Herske" are rather repetitive, atmospheric and brooding songs. These sound simple to a casual listener but to a more astute ear however, this track has subtle melodies hidden within it and shows you 'what once really was'. It brings back the depressive synergy that Burzum is all about. These tracks are alternatively placed in the structure of the album so that the effect created is both depressive and aggressive in nature. Without these tracks, the whole idea behind this album would be lost. "Naar Himmelen Klarner" is another instrumental but with some great guitar riffs throughout the whole song. The riffs are similar throughout the song but don't get very boring. Among one of the finest instrumentals on the album, it was originally written in '89, for Uruk Hai (earlier name for Burzum).

The last two tracks maintain the dark drone-like medieval atmosphere and even add a slight epic touch to it. It's the continuous dream-like nature throughout which makes this album special. Listening to a single track simply takes away the impact that this album can have on you. The combination of Varg's angry/emotional vocals, atmospheric instrumentals and wicked riffs makes this well worth your time.

If you are a fan of Ambient, Heavy, and crushing Black Metal then this album is definitely for you. I'd even go as far to say that it's essential for Black Metal fans. I think most Black Metal fans would enjoy it very much. It's a beautiful album and highly recommended.