review by: The Condor

Probably the only people who will get all up in arms about the new Borknagar album will be the same ones who are still whining about Katatonia's huge stylistic switch between Brave Murder Day and Tonight's Decision. Katatonia may have lost a handful of fans, but the new sound, while drastically different, still retained enough of the spirit and energy of the old sound to keep most fans entranced. Some, like me, much prefer the new sound.

Borknagar has been headed in a decidedly melodic direction from day one, but on Empiricism, they've turned and commited completely to 'the dark side,' where it's all about the melodies and THE SONGS. Some of the credit (or blame) can be attributed to the addition of a new singer (from Vintersorg), a new keyboard player (courtesy of black metal freaks Solefald) and what seems to be a new found melodicism in their songwriting. Quite possibly the catchiest black metal record ever (if this is still even black metal). Sounding at times like Dark Tranquillity, Arcturus, and sometimes even Faith No More, Borknagar has made an epic, catchy, melodic, but still completely heavy, metal record.

The record starts like the Borknagar of old, with a tinkling piano intro that is quickly overwhelmed by blasting drums and howled vocals. But soon the vocals turn majestic and soar melodically, very much like later Katatonia. The rest of the record weaves back and forth between delicate melody, crushing riff-heavy metal, complex prog, acoustic guitar breaks and strange keyboard interludes, but always remains melancholy, slightly dissonant, and so, so catchy. The record -sounds- amazing despite (or because of) a bizarre, practically guitarless mix, a weird selection of piano, flutes and deep chanting, and more hooks than almost any other metal record I can think of. I'm sure cries of 'sell out!' and 'poser!' will plague Borknagar, but in following whatever strange impulses that drive their music making, they've managed to make an amazingly different, completely original record, in a genre that is suffering from a terible case of the 'fast and furious and ultimately, exactly the same as every other record.'

Don't get me wrong, I love my buzzing Burzum guitars and droning Darkthrone blast beats, but maybe more bands should take Borknagar's lead, and worry less about how cult, or evil, or underground they are, or who gets to hold the sword and who gets to hold the torch during the photo session, and focus on writing actual songs. One of my records of the year!