The Scream Queen recently caught up with BURZUM founder Varg Vikernes to discuss his new album, Fallen, and his evolution as a musician. An excerpt is available below.

Q: A lot of artists are attached to their entire new albums that they create and usually have a special place in their hearts for a certain part or song of the album. What would you say is the most special song to you on Fallen and why?

Vikernes: "Well, I don't think I am fixed in one position, so to speak, and I have no permanent favorite. One day I prefer one track, and another day another one. I guess we can say I most often prefer 'Jeg Faller' ('I Am Falling') though. Why? It's probably the best track on the album..."

Q: How would you say your music you've created has impacted you as a person and also as an artist?

Vikernes: "Well, the music comes from me and not the other way around, so I'd say in no way. Positive feedback from others who like the music is more important in this context, and has been very inspiring to me as a musician."

Q: If you'd like to share, what would be the most important transition you've gone through musically since BURZUM's first release?

Vikernes: "Possibly the transition from making complex, tempo-shifting thrash metal (on the debut album and on Det Som Engang Var) to making more monotonous, simple and atmospheric heavy metal music from Hvis Lyset Tar Oss and onwards."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Fallen, will be released in North America on April 5th (March 7th in Europe). The album is the second to be released via Varg Vikernes’ imprint Byelobog Productions (via Candlelight for North America). The song 'Vanvidd' is currently streaming at this location.

Fallen features seven new compositions by the controversial Norwegian musician, each adding another storied journey to the celebrated Burzum legacy.

Tracklisting:

'Fra Verdenstreet'

'Jeg Faller'

'Valen'

'Vanvidd'

'Enhver Til Sitt'

'Budstikken'

'Til Hel og Tilbake Igjen'

Vikernes says of the new album, “Musically, Fallen is a cross between Belus and something new, inspired more by the debut album and Det Som Engang Var than by Hvis Lyset Tar Oss or Filosofem. The sound is more dynamic. We mastered the album as if it was classical music and I was more experimental than I was on Belus in all respects. Lyrically it is similar to the debut album, in the way that it is more personal and focuses on existential issues. But the mythological undertone known from Belus is still there. I have also included some ambient tracks, a short introduction and a longer conclusion.”

Many credit Burzum with influencing much of modern-day black metal. While his music has traveled roads often far removed from what many consider black metal to be (with parts ambient, electronic, and more), his compositions have immediately been taken to heart by countless legions of fans the world over. It is a “no fear” mentality that has made Varg Vikernes both an idol and a bastard.

Fallen is the second album from the controversial recording artist since his release from the chains that bound him for nearly two decades. It is the first album from the musician to benefit from a proper North American release.

Burzum was founded in 1991 by Vikernes. Under the pen name Count Grishnackh, the youthful musician quickly recorded four albums. During his lengthy incarceration, Vikernes recorded two additional albums, thus completing his initial series of compositions. Released from captivity in 2009, Vikernes immediately set out on a new path of creativity and quickly recorded/released Belus on his own label imprint, Byelobog Productions. Both CD and vinyl pressings of Belus quickly sold out with repressings of the album not coming quick enough to keep up with demand.