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
Traveller
Borknagar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A motion to bend, towards the swift end.
Encompassing a visionary plead to defend.
Liberation of the five senses, the ego phrase.
Metamorphosis of perceptual principles.
Platonic illumination of Natures' quincunx.
Which hemisphere is mine to hold?
Traveler of the x-scape, through endomorphism of time.
Hybrid existence - through spirituality endures the reality.
Traveler of the x-scape, through the gravisphere of wisdom.
Hyper potency - the predominant endurance through infinity.
The iridescence of the solar glimpse.
Through the eyes of Himm and Hippo.
Just another sole strike of the sun.
A stone in the hand or the thought of it?
Traveler of the x-scape, through endomorphism of time.
Hybrid existence - through spirituality endures the reality.
Traveler of the x-scape, through the gravisphere of wisdom.
Hyper potency - the predominant endurance through infinity.
Thoughts of a thinker.
Infinity of numbers.
Numbered thoughts.
Thoughts of infinity.
"Numbers are the essence of all things and the metaphysical
principle of rational order in the universe" (Pythagoras).
Liberation of the five senses, the ego phrase.
Everlasting metamorphosis of perceptual principles.
The lyrics to the song Traveller by Borknagar discuss various existential and philosophical concepts. The first few lines describe the ignition of existential matters which then prompt a motion to bend towards the swift end. This could be interpreted as a reference to mortality and the fleeting nature of life, prompting a desire to make the most of the time one has. The next line, "encompassing a visionary plead to defend", could be indicative of a desire to hold onto one's beliefs or sense of self in the face of an uncertain and transient world.
The next few lines discuss the liberation of the five senses and the metamorphosis of perceptual principles. This could mean a release from the constraints of societal norms and expectations to view the world through a different lens. The Platonic illumination of Nature's quincunx refers to the idea that the universe is ordered and symmetrical. The following line, "which hemisphere is mine to hold?" could refer to a search for one's place or purpose in the grand scheme of things.
The repetition of "Traveler of the x-scape" throughout the song reinforces the idea of movement, journey and exploration. The lines "through endomorphism of time" and "through the gravisphere of wisdom" could be seen as the different paths one can take in their quest for knowledge and self-discovery. The "hybrid existence" refers to the blending of the physical and spiritual realms.
The final lines of the song delve into the idea of infinite thought and the importance of numbers in the universe, as exemplified by the quote from Pythagoras. The overall theme of the song seems to be a search for meaning and purpose in a world that can often seem chaotic and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Existential matters ignite in circulation.
The topics of human existence and purpose are actively being discussed.
A motion to bend, towards the swift end.
A desire to change course and move quickly towards a goal.
Encompassing a visionary plead to defend.
The goal is to defend and uphold a visionary idea.
Liberation of the five senses, the ego phrase.
Freeing oneself from sensory limitations and individual perspective.
Metamorphosis of perceptual principles.
Transforming the way one understands and interprets information.
Platonic illumination of Natures' quincunx.
Understanding the natural world through Platonic philosophy.
Which hemisphere is mine to hold?
Which perspective or worldview should I adopt?
Traveler of the x-scape, through endomorphism of time.
A person on a journey through time and space.
Hybrid existence - through spirituality endures the reality.
Combining spirituality and a sense of reality to navigate existence.
Traveler of the x-scape, through the gravisphere of wisdom.
A person seeking knowledge and understanding on their journey.
Hyper potency - the predominant endurance through infinity.
A strong and enduring force that will last forever.
The iridescence of the solar glimpse.
The beauty and wonder of a moment in time and nature.
Through the eyes of Himm and Hippo.
Viewing the moment through different perspectives or lenses.
Just another sole strike of the sun.
A reminder that each moment is fleeting, like the passing of the sun.
A stone in the hand or the thought of it?
Reflecting on the power and significance of an object or idea.
Thoughts of a thinker.
The musings and ideas of an intellectual.
Infinity of numbers.
The endless possibilities and combinations of numerical concepts.
Numbered thoughts.
The way in which numerical concepts shape the way we think.
Thoughts of infinity.
Meditating on the infinite nature of thought and the universe.
"Numbers are the essence of all things and the metaphysical
principle of rational order in the universe" (Pythagoras).
Quoting Pythagoras to emphasize the importance of numerical concepts in understanding the universe.
Everlasting metamorphosis of perceptual principles.
Continuously changing the way we perceive and interpret the world around us.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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