Dauði Baldrs

Dauði Baldrs (Old Norse for "Baldr's Death" or "The Death of Baldr") is the fifth album by the Norwegian solo act Burzum. Unlike Burzum's previous work, which was mostly black metal, this is a dark ambient album. It was recorded using a synthesizer and a normal tape recorder by Varg Vikernes while he was in prison, as he was not allowed to have any other instruments or recording equipment. It was completed in a few months due to his limited access to synthesizers, which was also the case with the following album, Hliðskjálf.[3]

Dauði Baldrs
Studio album by Burzum
Released	14 October 1997
Recorded	1994–1995
Genre	Neo-classic[1] ambient[1] medieval[2] dungeon synth[2]
Length	39:10
Label	Misanthropy
Producer	Varg Vikernes
Burzum chronology
Filosofem (1996) Dauði Baldrs (1997) Hliðskjálf (1999)
Alternative cover
cover of the "Balder's død" release of this album

Concept

The album is about the legacy of Baldr, the second son of Odin in Norse mythology. Most likely a concept album, as the whole album leads up to Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world in Norse mythology.

Music

Stylistically, the album is a mix of medieval music, ambient, neoclassical and minimalism, a huge stray-away from the raw black metal that characterized Burzum's earlier work. Some songs are very folk-driven and medieval, while some are sparse, hypnotic ambient minimalist songs, particularly "Illa tiðandi". The album has been described by many as "dungeon synth". The songs contrast each other quite a lot, with the title track, "Bálferð Baldrs" and "Í heimr heljar" being the most medieval-like. "Móti Ragnarokum" contains monophonic sections mixed with other thicker sections. "Illa tiðandi" is easily the most minimalist track, with only two sections being repeated over the 10:29 duration, which are both simple piano melodies, eventually accompanied by a choral chant.

"Illa tiðandi" is an alternative version of the song "Decrepitude I", while "Bálferð Baldrs" is an ambient version of the main riff from the song "Jesu død". Both of these songs appeared on Burzum's previous album Filosofem.

The song "Dauði Baldrs" was later re-arranged into a black metal style as the song "Belus død" on the 2010 album Belus.

Name and release

The album was originally named Balders Død. The Misanthropy promo CD sent out before the album's release had this title, as well as a different cover. Furthermore, some copies of the album have a misprint of the Burzum logo, spelling it "Burzu".[4] Rare original pressings of the LP include an eight-page booklet with artwork and Norwegian text as well as a set of six tarot cards.[5] The swastika-adorned cloak worn by a man on the cover is an almost exact copy of the cloak worn by the character Thordur in When the Raven Flies[6].

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Sputnikmusic	[1]
Aversion Online	Negative[7]

Sputnik Music, gave the album a 1.5 out of 5 review, saying its "40 minutes of a crazed neo-nazi, church burning murderer playing a toy piano, It's only half as funny as it sounds."[1]

Track listing

All tracks by Varg Vikernes.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dauði Baldrs" ("The Death of Baldr")	8:49
2.	"Hermoðr á Helferð" ("Hermóðr on a Journey to Hel")	2:41
3.	"Bálferð Baldrs" ("Baldr's Balefire")	6:05
4.	"Í heimr Heljar" ("In Hel's Home")	2:02
5.	"Illa tiðandi" ("Ill Tidings")	10:29
6.	"Móti Ragnarǫkum" ("Towards Ragnarök")	9:04
Total length:		39:10

Credits

• Varg Vikernes – synthesizers, audio engineering, songwriting
• Pytten – mastering

Notes

1. review
2. Bromfield, Daniel (18 July 2017). "Holy Hell! Dauði Baldrs Turns 20". spectrumculture.com. Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
3. "Interview with Varg Vikernes". Retrieved 5 March 2009.
4. "Burzu* - Dauði Baldrs (CD, Album) at Discogs". Retrieved 2 February 2013.
5. "popslike.com - Burzum Daudi Bauldrs LP Misanthropy original pressing - auction details". Retrieved 2 February 2013.
6. "Movie stills from the Hrafninn flýgur movie with Thordur wearing the cloak". Retrieved 1 May 2020.
7. review2

External links

• Burzum discography