Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Burzum
Title
Belus
Type
LP/EP
Company
Byelobog Productions
YOR
2010
Style
Black
6/24/2010 - Review by: Ben McCraw

Burzum
Belus

Company: Byelobog Productions
Release: 2010
Genre: Black
Reviewer: Ben McCraw

  • View it simply as a work of art



  • Eschewing all notions, all preconceived thoughts and pointless arguments about Varg Vikernes or his work, I have opted to do what no other reviewer has done thus far--I will focus on the music itself.

    Having released seven albums Belus is the eighth in the Burzum catalogue, It contains tracks produced from three different locations over the past twenty-two years (1988-2010) all meant to cohere into a singular conceptual work. The album derives its name from an ancient European god of light and innocence who serves as both the tragedy and ultimately, the triumphant hero of the story. Typically the Burzum sound can best be described as ethereal, as this was the intention of its creator who is quoted on his website as saying: "If I can make you dream when listening to this album, I believe I have done a good job". In other words, the music is meant to pull you into a state of silent introspection; some pieces jolt the senses with gritty guitars, others use atmospheric keyboard textures to spark a morbid curiosity of the unknown.

    So, if you were expecting a drastic change in the overall sound, or rather for Burzum to sound like anything other than Burzum, then this album may not be for you. But for others, listen and allow yourself to escape into a world of things unseen--sometimes calming, sometimes nightmarish--and view it simply as a work of art. Inevitably black metal fans will draw comparisons between Belus and other black metal releases, but to clarify, these tracks are meant impart different moods, as opposed to the all out attack that is prevalent in so many styles of metal today. And in that sense, these songs may be more "black" than we'll ever know.


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: BURZUM
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Anthology
    2008
    Candlelight
    Devil Dave10/31/2008
    3
    Belus
    2010
    Byelobog Productions
    Ben McCraw6/24/2010
    4

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: BURZUM
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE

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