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Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 03/20/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After releasing the mostly acoustic (and completely excellent) Origin in 2006, I was curious as to where Borknagar was going to take their innovative brand of progressive black metal next. After making fans wait nearly four years, the Norwegian band is finally back with their eighth studio album, titled Universal.



I'm not sure what I was expecting from Universal, but my initial reaction is that it was a step backwards to the sound of the Epic and Empiricism albums. That's not a bad thing. I mean, those albums are awesome after all. It's just that Borknagar took a huge leap forward with Origin and Universal doesn't seem to acknowledge that. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Universal is a very good album, and one that continues to find the right balance between black and progressive metal sounds. It has atmosphere and real energy, some amazing musicianship, and the reliably exceptional vocals - clean (with additional harmonizing) as well as screamed - by Vintersorg. Some of the melodies, progressive aspects and organ sounds remind me of recent Opeth albums, but for the most part what I'm hearing is exactly what I heard half a decade ago when Epic came out.



It may not be breaking any new ground, but an "average" Borknagar album is still going to be better than most bands' best work. If you're a Borknagar fan, particularly of their Epic sound, you're probably going to love Universal. I think it makes for a pretty good introduction to the band for newcomers as well."

Brilliant

Joseph Fletcher | North Carolina, USA | 03/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am proud to announce that Borknagar has returned to form. After a complete departure from black metal coming in the form of the band's last album Origin, the furious and melodious onslaught we normally associate with this Norwegian black metal titan is again present on Universal. Like Epic and Empiricism, the progressive elements in this record perfectly compliment Borknagar's melodic black metal approach, which unlike that of many of their countrymen is rare in black metal - and particularly in the ferocious Norwegian brand.



This is not to say that Universal is just a rehashing of the band's old ideas - far from it in fact. Some of the experimentation and multi-instrument layering Borknagar played with on Origin is present, most notably towards the end of the song Stir of Seasons, which flows into For A Thousand Years To Come, both of which feature non traditional black metal instruments: the flute, the violin, and even some piano. There's even a fret-less bass solo in middle of For A Thousand Years. So perfect is the composition that you won't notice these as out of place at all. In fact, I can't really pick a favorite just yet - give me another couple months.



Despite the fact that the year is only two months old, I'd venture to say that this album will be among the very best black metal albums of 2010."