Norway’s avant-garde black metal innovators, Borknagar, have released a special 25th Anniversary reissue of their pioneering self-titled debut album Borknagar, out for the first time ever worldwide via the band’s longtime label partner Century Media Records.

Check out a visualizer clip for the track “Dauden" (Remaster 2021), created by Wanderley Perna / W Designer, below.

Borknagar founder and mastermind Øystein G. Brun commented about “Dauden” as follows: “If there is one song that has shaped my sound and inspired my career as a musician that is 'Dauden'. Even though this was not the first song written for the debut, 'Dauden' was the first song I carved out on my, then newly bought, Fostex multitrack recorder. This opened a new world to me, to be able to sit in solitude and work out layers of guitar arrangements without the typical fuzz and chaos of a rehearsal room. I still remember the grandiose feeling of musical excitement when the mid-section of this song fell into place. A notion that music can derive from “nothing” to become an entity bigger than life. This exact notion has kept my flame burning throughout all these years. Furthermore, when first talking with Kristoffer “Garm” Rygg about him doing the vocals and joining the band, 'Dauden' was the song we were talking about, this was the musical trigger so to speak. He was seriously into this song. And I can clearly remember as if it was yesterday, Garm dancing around in studio in awe doing choirs. There was something magical about this one…And still is!”

Øystein G. Brun previously commented on this special re-release: “Throughout the years I have received countless requests for a re-release of this album…but because this album represents such a personal and treacherous part of my life, I wanted it to be done with dignity. And here we are: This is the definitive re-release of the debut album of Borknagar. This release contains a genuine re-master of the debut album, based on the original mix tapes. This has been done with the uttermost care and love by yours sincerely to maintain the original sound and flavour of the album, and solely to improve the listening experience. Working on this re-release has been an emotional ride. While always maintaining a good feeling about the project it has been times of frustration and technical obstacles. Hours has been spent finding and compiling old pictures, dealing with tapes and equipment that has not been played or used in over 25 years. But now it is done, and I hope you all enjoy and appreciate this release as much as I do.”

Initially released in 1996, "Borknagar" saw Øystein G. Brun recruiting a phenomenal cast of like-minded musicians such as Garm (Ulver, ex Arcturus) doing the vocals, drummer Grim (ex-Immortal, Gorgoroth and Ancient), Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved) on keyboards and bassist Infernus (who played in Gorgoroth) to enter the notorious halls of Grieghallen Studios with the goal of rupturing the peripheries of what was then deemed “traditional” black metal.

The new deluxe edition of the album, now entitled Borknagar (25th Anniversary Reissue 2021) marks the definitive version of this pioneering Norwegian metal classic, as it includes a careful remaster of the 10 album songs courtesy of Øystein G. Brun himself, a makeover for the original artwork, profound liner notes, exclusive photos and a bonus disc full of previously unheard material from the band vaults.

The limited Digipak 2CD (with 12 bonus tracks / 60 min.) and the limited Gatefold 2LP on 180g black vinyl (with 8 bonus tracks / 37 min.) can be ordered here.

Below are the tracklistings of the Anniversary release.

2CD Digipak & Digital Album:

CD1 – Borknagar (Remaster 2021):
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Remaster 2021) (06:47)
"Tanker mot Tind - Kvelding" (Remaster 2021) (03:43)
"Svartskogs Gilde" (Remaster 2021) (05:52)
"Ved Steingard" (Remaster 2021) (02:18)
"Krigsstev" (Remaster 2021) (02:02)
"Dauden" (Remaster 2021) (05:49)
"Grimskalle Trell" (Remaster 2021) (05:39)
"Nord Naagauk" (Remaster 2021) (03:07)
"Fandens Allheim" (Remaster 2021) (06:22)
"Tanker mot Tind - Gryning" (Remaster 2021) (03:01)

CD2 – Borknagar (25th Anniversary Bonus Material):
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (06:46)
"Svartskogs Gilde" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
"Krigsstev" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (02:02)
"Dauden" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
"Grimskalle Trell" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:45)
"Fandens Allheim" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:53)
"Ved Steingard" (Alternate Mix) (02:13)
"Nord Naagauk" (Alternate Mix) (03:28)
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Rehearsal 1994) (06:59)
"Grimskalle Trell" (Rehearsal 1994) (06:14)
"Ved Steingard" (First ever recording 1994) (02:18)
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Alternate Mix) (06:49)

Gatefold 2LP:

LP 1 – Borknagar (Remaster 2021):

Side A:
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Remaster 2021) (06:47)
"Tanker mot Tind - Kvelding "(Remaster 2021) (03:43)
"Svartskogs Gilde" (Remaster 2021) (05:52)
"Ved Steingard" (Remaster 2021) (02:18)
"Krigsstev" (Remaster 2021) (02:02)

Side B:
"Dauden" (Remaster 2021) (05:49)
"Grimskalle Trell" (Remaster 2021) (05:39)
"Nord Naagauk" (Remaster 2021) (03:07)
"Fandens Allheim" (Remaster 2021) (06:22)
"Tanker mot Tind - Gryning" (Remaster 2021) (03:01)

LP 2 – Borknagar (25th Anniversary Bonus Material):

Side C:
"Vintervredets Sjelesagn" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (06:46)
"Svartskogs Gilde" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)
"Krigsstev" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (02:02)
"Dauden" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:51)

Side D:
"Grimskalle Trell" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:45)
"Fandens Allheim" (Live Session at Grieghallen Studios 1995) (05:53)
"Ved Steingard" (Alternate Mix) (02:13)
"Nord Naagauk" (Alternate Mix) (03:10)

Borknagar will be joining the Devastation On The Nation North America Tour 2022. The band will be direct support to Rotting Christ and will be joined by Wolfheart, Abigail Williams starting April 21 in Berkeley, CA and wrapping on May 22 in Los Angeles. Tickets are available to purchase, here.

Tour dates:

April
21 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
22 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
23 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
24 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
27 - Denver, CO - The Roxy Theater
29 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
30 - Chicago, IL - Reggies

May
1 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary
3 - Toronto, ON - Lees Palace
4 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
5 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
6 - Manchester, NH - Jewel
7 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus Bar
8 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
10 - Greensboro, NC - Blind Tiger
11 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
12 - Birmingham, AL - Zydeco
13 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Hell)
14 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum
16 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
17 - Fort Worth, TX - Haltom Theater
18 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
19 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar
20 - Phoenix, AZ - Nile Theater
21 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
22 - Los Angeles, CA -1720

(Photo - Jørn Veberg)