As such, the band's most known style would be that of progressive black metal, with most of their albums taking from this style. Borknagar's lyrics often deal with philosophy, paganism, nature, and the cosmos. Øystein Brun stated once that the name was inspired by a Scottish legend about a man who climbed Lochnagar, a mountain in Scotland.
Borknagar rose out of the ashes of the Norwegian death metal band Molested when then-member Øystein G. Brun became tired of the brutal aspects of the band's music. Øystein formed Borknagar to explore a more melodic outlet of expression; he wrote all of the music and lyrics and gathered together an all-star group of black metal musicians to play in his band. Well-known musicians of the black metal scene (such as Infernus of Gorgoroth, Grim of Immortal and Gorgoroth, Ivar Bjørnson from Enslaved, Garm of Ulver, Head Control System, and ex-Arcturus) joined the project, bringing immediate attention to Borknagar. The band never even recorded a demo – they simply asked for a record contract on Malicious Records and were granted their request. Borknagar's majestic, melodic sound was instantly liked by many and received positive press attention.
Borknagar has released ten albums to date. Their self-titled debut album features lyrics in Norwegian; all subsequent albums have featured lyrics written in English by both ICS Vortex from Arcturus and Dimmu Borgir and later by current singer, Vintersorg from Otyg and his eponymous band (Vintersorg). All of the band's records (excluding the original pressing of the debut album via Malicious Records) have been released by the Century Media label. Borknagar has toured with various bands, including the well-known Cradle of Filth.
Simen Hestnæs rejoined the band in 2010. Since then he and Vintersorg have shared lead vocal duties.
Discography:
1996 - Borknagar
1997 - The Olden Domain
1998 - The Archaic Course
2000 - Quintessence
2001 - Empiricism
2002 - Urd
2004 - Epic
2006 - Origin
2010 - Universal
2012 - Urd
2016 - Winter Thrice
2019 - True North
Members:
Current Members
* Vintersorg (Andreas Hedlund) - Vocals
* Øystein G. Brun - Guitar
* Lazare (Lars Nedland) - Keyboard
* Jens Ryland - Guitar
* ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) - Vocals, Bass
* Baard Kolstad - Drums
Former Members
* Garm (Kristoffer Rygg) - Vocals
* Asgeir Mickelson - Drums
* Kai Lie - Bass
* Infernus - Bass
* Ivar Bjørnson - Keyboard
* Grim (Erik Brødreskift) - Drums (Causa mortis: Suicide. 1969 - 1999.10.04.)
* Tyr (Jan Erik Tiwaz) - Bass - Session Member for Origin album
* David Kinkade - Drums
Icon Dreams
Borknagar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rinses the tide as a blend of fire
Upon the shores, where fires blaze
The pulse of time, shades of light
Plains stroked by the slumber sleep
Mountains embraced by rafting time
Swept into a new horizon
Rise into a liquid dream
Where horizons burn, burn till dawn
My domain
Where horizons burn, burn till dawn
Rise into a liquid dream
Where the mountains groan, groans till dawn
The energy of the wisdom haze
Rinses the tide as a blend of fire
Upon the shores, where fires blaze
The pulse of time shades of light
The lyrics of Borknagar's song "Icon Dreams" paint a picture of a majestic, awe-inspiring natural world, wherein the forces of nature--such as fire, water, and the passage of time--are personified as living entities. The opening lines speak of the "wisdom haze" that seems to permeate this world, rinsing the tides and blending with fire on the shores. This energy seems to be alive and pulsing, with the "shades of light" suggesting a subtle but intense vibrancy.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe wide plains "stroked by the slumber sleep" and mountains "embraced by rafting time," each element of nature personified and given agency. The landscape is described as being "swept into a new horizon," suggesting a continual cycle of renewal and transformation. Finally, the chorus speaks of rising into a "liquid dream" where horizons burn until dawn, and the mountains groan. This final image highlights the raw, intense power of the natural world, with even the very earth itself capable of expressing its own agony and ecstasy.
Overall, the lyrics of "Icon Dreams" evoke a world both ancient and eternal, a place imbued with a mystical energy that speaks to the human soul. The song suggests that we are not separate from the world we inhabit, but rather that we are intimately connected to it, part of a great tapestry of life and energy that stretches back through the ages.
Line by Line Meaning
The energy of the wisdom haze
The power of knowledge and insightfulness that is hard to identify or explain
Rinses the tide as a blend of fire
Erasing everything that does not matter, and purifying what is left into a mixture of passion and intensity
Upon the shores, where fires blaze
By the beach, where desires and ambitions are strong and vibrant
The pulse of time, shades of light
The constant rhythm of life, encompassing all the different hues of emotions and experiences
Plains stroked by the slumber sleep
The flat terrains that seem to be asleep, but are actually just dormant, peaceful, and ready for new growth
Mountains embraced by rafting time
The towering peaks that have stood the test of time, and have been molded and shaped by the forces of nature
Swept into a new horizon
Transcending past experiences and moving towards new discoveries
The source of life, the course at sight
The origin of all existence, and the path that lies ahead, waiting to be traversed
Rise into a liquid dream
Ascend into a state of consciousness that is fluid and ever-changing, and where anything is possible
Where horizons burn, burn till dawn
In the place where new beginnings are forged, and where the future is full of promise and potential, the night burns brightly until daybreak
My domain
My own personal realm, where I am free to explore, create, and pursue my deepest desires
Where the mountains groan, groans till dawn
In the place where the earth meets the sky, the mountains let out a deep, resounding roar that echoes through the night and continues until morning
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind