Borknagar - The Archaic Course

With Archaic Course Borknagar had a new vocalist named I.C.S. Vortex. He was just as good as Garm was, however he was different. Unlike Garm's unholy shrieks and then epic and deep clean vocals, Vortex has a less epic style, but still very good sound. Vortex was (and is) a much less avant garde singer. Instead, he sings in a more traditional metal way when he sings clean. The band also started to change its approach. Instead of the chaotic but melodic sounds of Borknagar and The Olden Domain, they got more chaotic and tight, with constantly changing tempos and sounds. Everything was right up to the wall and instead of a change-up between heavy screeching and quiet instrumentals, there was constant but very complex metal.

I like this record a lot, but I have to think of it much differently than their first two records. Those seem very natural and organic, while this is still organic, but much more hard, and confusingly intense and complex. This is a very hard to digest record--not that it's bad, it just takes a lot more concentration and listens.

Borknagar are very, very good at writing lyrics. Every song has perfect words and all are very interesting and well done. Grim shows himself as a great drummer from beginning to end. And Brun is a great guitarist. He really creates a style that is definably his. This record also has very loud bass, which I enjoy, and on later records the bass would become even more important.

I'm unsure if this is a good place to start for a new Borknagar listener. However, Borknagar are definitely one of the most complex and chaotically great black metal bands out now, and there is really no good place to start, so if you see this and are interested in Borknagar it is a good listen.