«What Once Was» BURZUM

Burzum & Varg Vikernes old memories ━ « Det som en gang var er nu borte...» ━

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« Christianity was created by some decadent and degenerated Romans as a tool of oppression, in the late Roman era, and it should be treated accordingly. It is like "handcuff's" to the mind and spirit and is nothing but destructive to mankind. In fact I don't really see Christianity as a religion. It is more like a spiritual plague, a mass psychosis, and it should first and foremost be treated as a problem to be solved by the medical science. Christianity is a diagnosis. It's like Islam and the other Asian "religions" a HIV/AIDS of the spirit and mind. » — Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Metal Crypt E'Zine” (2005)

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This is the bunker from WWII in Osøyro (Os - Hordaland) where Varg Vikernes and Euronymous took some photos in the early 1992, at the time of the recording of the debut album.

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YOU CAN FIND  «What Once Was» BURZUM ALSO ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/whatoncewasburzum/

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« The concept on “Hvis Lyset Tar Oss” is the elucidation of a new moral unknown to the ludicrous Christians. They don’t get it that their “warmth and light” is nothing but hell for me and my brethen. In “If The Light Take Us” the concept is “let it not take you”. “Filosofem” is a disparaging assertion proposed in a philosophical erudite language. A continuance of “Hvis Lyset Tar Oss” and the other, earlier, albums. It’s all about Burzum (Darkness). » — Count Grishnackh/Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Descent” zine (1994)

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« In my teenage interpretation I pretty much saw the Hobbits as children or simply boring. The Dwarves reminded me too much of greedy capitalist-pigs and they too were pretty boring. Their rules were cool and Moria was a wonderful place, but I disliked their greed vehemently [...] The Elves were fascinating, beautiful and especially their immortality and closeness to nature was cool, but they were kind of dull and they fought for the wrong side. Instead I felt a natural attraction to Sauron, who was the person who gave the world adventure, adversity and challenges in the first place. His One Eye, the One Ring and the tower of Barad-Dur are all attributes similar to those of Óðinn. The One Eye was like Óðinn’s eye, the One Ring was like Óðinn’s ring, Draupnir (“Dripper”), and Barad-Dur was like the tower or throne of Óðinn, called Hliðskjálf (“Secret Ritual-Site”). His Uruk-Hai and Olog-Hai (“Troll-Race”) were like Viking berserkers, the Warges were like Óðinnic werewolves, and so forth. I could easily identify with the fury of the “dark forces”, and enjoyed their existence very much because they were making a boring and peaceful world dangerous and exciting. I grew up reading the traditional Scandinavian fairy tales, where the Pagan gods are presented as “evil” creatures, as “trolls” and “goblins”, and we all know how the inquisition turned Freyr (Cernunnos/Dionysus/Bacchus etc.) into “Satan”. Tolkien was no better. He had turned Óðinn into Sauron and my Pagan forefathers into the fighting Uruk-Hai. To me the “dark forces” attacking Gondor were like the Vikings attacking Charlemagne’s Christian France, the “dark forces” attacking Rohan were like the Vikings attacking the Christian England. And I may add; the Vikings eventually lost their war as well, just like Sauron and the orcs did – and I didn’t mind supporting the loosing part. I have always believed in doing what is right, regardless of the consequences, and if I was fighting for a lost cause it didn’t matter. I would rather die fighting for what I believe in, than live for anything else.» — Varg Vikernes on “A Burzum Story: Part I - The Origin And Meaning” (2004)

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BURZUM - “Dauði Baldrs” (1997) Recorded in late 1994/early 1995. This instrumental album is basically the soundtrack to the story of Baldr who was the second son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg in Norse mythology. Baldr is known primarily for the story of his death, which is seen as the first in the chain of events which will ultimately lead to the destruction of the gods at Ragnarök. Thus, “Dauði Baldrs” is most likely a concept album, as the whole album leads up to Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world after which Baldr will emerge to reconcile to his brother Höðr and rule the new world together with Thor's sons. 

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BURZUM - “Dunkelheit” VHS from 1996, taken from the album “Filosofem”. Directed by David Palser, released by Misanthopy Records. The first edition included an original art animation cell from the making of the video. The video was made following instructions written by Varg Vikernes in prison. The song “Dunkelheit” was the first song Varg wrote for Burzum although it was released much later after an earlier recording was deemed unfit for release. He originally wanted to include it on the “Hvis Lyset Tar Oss” album, but the recording was poor according to him, so he didn’t use it. Varg changed the name of his band to Burzum from Uruk-Hai when he made this song in 1991.

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Count Grishnackh/Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Forest of N’gai” zine from when Varg also did bass in Mayhem. [Photo & info courtesy of “@truemayhemcollection”]

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« "Kymo-phane" er gresk, og betyr "Bølge som kommer", og her tales det selvsagt om den hedenske bølge som skal skylle over og legge "guds" syke rike I ruiner. » English translation: « "Kymo-phane" is Greek, meaning "Wave to appear," and here, of course, it is said of the heathen wave that will flush over and put the "sickness of God" in ruins. » — Count Grishnackh/Varg Vikernes’ picture and interview on “A 1000 years... of lost pride and dignity - The epitaph for religious propaganda” zine (1994).

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“The Lord Of The Rings - The Fellowship Of The Ring” first edition (1954) J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord Of The Rings” saga and his other fantasy works, were one of the main influences and inspirations for Varg Vikernes. In the “Filosofem” album released in 1996, there is a song called “Beholding the Daughters of the Firmament” which was highly influenced by a song called “I Sit Beside the Fire and Think” found in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship Of The Ring", sung by Bilbo Baggins in Rivendell on 24th December T.A. 3018, a few days before Frodo and the Fellowship set out to Mordor. Bilbo sang the song in the presence of Frodo, after giving Frodo the Mithril-coat and the elvish knife called Sting. The song is a contemplative piece, sung by a now-aging hobbit recalling past events that ends in anticipation of hearing returning friends. « I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see. For still there are so many things that I have never seen: in every wood in every spring there is a different green. I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago and people who will see a world that I shall never know. But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door. I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see. For still there are so many things that I have never seen: in every wood in every spring there is a different green. I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago and people who will see a world that I shall never know. But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door. »

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BURZUM - “Filosofem” (1996) « The "Filosofem" album was my first attempt to distance myself from the "Black Metal" trend, and was in reality an anti-Black Metal album, just like my first few albums had been anti-death metal albums. Unfortunately nobody understood this, and instead "Filosofem" just set new standards for what was to be defined as "Black Metal". Of course "Dauði Baldrs" and "Hliðskjálf" really made my point clear, that I did not play "Black Metal", but by then it was in a sense too late. The parody of so-called Black Metal that we today know as "Black Metal" had already become a huge sub-culture and a genre in itself. » — Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Metal Crypt E'Zine” (2005)

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“Hvis Lyset Tar Oss” flyers. The first flyer is in Norwegian from Cymophane Productions run by Varg Vikernes; the second one is in English from Misanthropy Records. Cymophane Productions distributed the album in Scandinavia and Misanthropy Records distributed it in Europe.

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« BURZUM rules my mind. It’s darkness where I dwell. » —  Count Grishnackh/Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Forest of N’gai” zine  (1992/93)

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« BURZUM has never been promoted as “Black Metal” by my label. I usually do not care who listens to my music, but I would prefer that nobody from the “Black Metal scene” listens to BURZUM as the “black metallers” tend to be a bunch of puberal losers with a strong feeling of inferiority. I dislike vehemently such low-life. BURZUM is not for weak losers. »  —  Count Grishnackh/Varg Vikernes’ interview on “Deprived” zine (1995)

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Originally founded in 1992 as Burznazg,  Cymophane Productions was the personal label of Varg Vikernes. The eye on the Cymophane logo is the Eye of Odin. The original edition of "Det Som Engang Var" was released by him on this label. The label later became somewhat incorporated into Misanthropy Records and all subsequent Burzum releases (and re-releases) bear the Cymophane logo and EYE catalogue number.

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« BURZUM is not just a band. It is a concept of darkness, the antithesis of goodness and light existing since the dawn of time, incarnated into our days by the being Count Grishnackh. And the music of BURZUM is indeed not a result of ordinary human activity such as can be heard on the huge amounts of mainstream releases which are being spewn out to the masses today. When putting on the BURZUM album, prepare for a journey into the dark lands of the Count, where the forests are deep, the valleys are filled with fog, the mountains are steep and covered in snow in an everlasting winter. » Rare Burzum debut promo sheet from Deathlike Silence Productions written by Euronymous. [Photo & info courtesy of “@truemayhemcollection”]

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The second Burzum's demo tape was something Euronymous made and sold in Helvete. Varg was not involved. These are the two Burzum's demo flyers; the white one was corrected from 3 tracks to 12 tracks. [Photo & info courtesy of “@truemayhemcollection”]