Burzum - Det Som Engang Var (1993) [Reissue, Digipak] (1994)

 

 Vikernes began making music in his first band, Kalashnikov, formed in 1988. It would later be renamed Uruk-Hai in 1989, before disbanding in 1990 without having released any material. From 1990 to 1991, Vikernes played guitar in Old Funeral, and later in Satanel, which he formed with Abbath of Immortal.

In 1991, after Satanel disbanded, Vikernes began a solo project, which he called Burzum (a translation of "darkness" from J.R.R. Tolkien's Black Speech, the language spoken by orcs and other creatures of Mordor). Handling all instruments and vocals by himself, he recorded Burzum's first four full-length albums in a span of just over one year. In addition, he joined Mayhem on bass, as well.

 Varg Vikernes recorded the first four Burzum albums between January 1992 and March 1993 at the Grieg Hall in Bergen. However, the releases were spread out, with many months between the recording and the release of each album.

The album was initially named På svarte troner (Norwegian for "On Black Thrones") but was renamed shortly before its release. The song "Det som en gang var" (with a slightly different spelling) would appear on the next album, Hvis lyset tar oss.

The album cover is visually inspired by the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st edition) module The Temple of Elemental Evil. At the bottom of the artwork is a depiction of the "reaper" and the tree shown on Burzum's first album. The album cover was drawn by Jannicke Wiese-Hansen, who also drew the cover for the first Burzum album. 

 

 

 Tracklist:

1.     Den onde kysten     02:20       instrumental
2.     Key to the Gate     05:10
3.     En ring til aa herske     07:09
4.     Lost Wisdom     04:38
5.     Han som reiste     04:50       instrumental
6.     Naar himmelen klarner     03:50       instrumental
7.     Snu mikrokosmos tegn     09:36
8.     Svarte troner     02:16

39:49 

 

Line up: 

 • Greifi Grishnackh : songwriting, all instruments, vocals, lyrics.

 

 

 Label: Misanthropy Records. AMAZON 002 / EYE 001. 

Det som engang var is Norwegian for "What Once Was."

English translation of Norwegian titles:
1. The Coast of Evil
3. One Ring to Rule
5. He Who Wandered
6. When the Sky Clears
7. Turn the Sign of the Microcosm
8. Black Thrones

The cover art, just like the one of Burzum, was inspired by the Dungeons and Dragons adventure module The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Working title of the record was På svarte troner, but this was changed before the album was officially released.

6-panel digipak including lyrics (minus the last track) and their german translation.

Recorded at Grieghallen Studios, Bergen, Norway, April 1992 (before the Aske EP, although Aske was released first). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Count Grishnackh in Osøyro dungeon, photo by Euronymous.