Borknagar Ditches Black Metal for Melodic Influences in New Animated Video for “Up North”

Borknagar released a new animated video for “Up North” which is a visual of flashing, gorgeous colors that captivate the senses. The song is meaningful in that it represents the circle of life. The video director, Costin Chioreanu said, “Up North” stole my heart from the very first listen. It was so strange, when I started to read the lyrics, it seemed like were written by somebody studying my latest life-experiences. Not only that, many years ago a native American shaman recommended me to follow the North Star. I guess, with ‘Up North’ I got even closer!”

Borknagar’s Øystein G. Brun said, “Over seasonal changes the lyrics deal with the circle of live, to constancy of energy in the universe and the fact that we are all stardust that momentary comes together to be you, me and everybody else on this vast and wonderous planet. We are truly impressed by Costin’s work! The way the visuals play around with the lyrical themes is a stroke of genius. This is art in the true sense of the word, where hard work, passion, heart and soul has made this a glorious piece of captivatinge eye-candy. We love it!”

The band recently released “The Fire That Burns” from their new album and Brun said, “In the name of music. Still we are here after 25+ years, stand firm on our musical visions and ready to boot up for yet another musical journey – wherever that may lead in this vast and wondrous world.”

Borknagar band members include Øystein G. Brun, ICS Vortex, Lars A. Nedland, Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow and Jostein Thomassen. The band is set to release their new album, True North on September 27, 2019. They have released ten albums to date. In 1994, the death-metal guitarist Øystein G. Brun recruited like-minded musicians from Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Arcturus, Immortal, and Ulver with the goal of rupturing the peripheries of what was deemed “traditional” black metal.

In 1996, after the release of their first self-titled album the band signed with Century Media and then released The Olden Domain in 1997. In August 1998 they recorded The Archaic Course and in May of 1999, Borknagar (joined by ex-Cradle Of Filth and ex- Dimmu Borgir drummer Nick Barker) pillaged through North America on the legendary Kings Of Terror Tour with Emperor, Witchery, Peccatum and Divine Empire.

Borknagar entered Sweden’s Abyss Studios in January 2000 to record their fourth album Quintessence, an album nominated for the Norwegian national Alarm prize. In October 2001, one of Borknagar`s best selling records, Empiricism, was released and nominated for two prestigious awards in Norway, the National Grammy Award and again the Alarm prize.

In 2004, Borknagar finished the 6th album EPIC. In 2010, Borknagar released Universal featuring a guest appearance by I.C.S. Vortex on the track “My Domain”. The album was highly acclaimed worldwide and earned the band very good reviews.

Borknagar – “True North” Tracklisting:
1. Thunderous
2. Up North
3. The Fire That Burns
4. Lights
5. Wild Father’s Heart
6. Mount Rapture
7. Into The White
8. Tidal
9. Voices
——————————-
10. Wild Father’s Heart (Instrumental Demo Version) * Bonus Track
11. Up North (Demo Version) * Bonus Track

Kelly Tucker: Originally from Los Angeles, I grew up listening to all types of music. My first concert was Aerosmith with Skid Row, then moved on to concerts with Metallica, Lollapalooza, Guns N’ Roses, Soundgarden and more. One of my favorite shows of all time was when I was in college and someone took me to see the Allman Brothers play. I also scalped a ticket to see Pearl Jam and the amazing Eddie Vedder sing his heart out. My professional career started in 2000 at Nielsen Business Media where I was an assistant in a sales department and later got promoted to advertising account executive. When the recession hit in 2008 and the magazine was sold, I took a job at a call center and later got promoted to assistant to the CEO and COO of a global company. In 2017, I took a position at a pharmaceutical agency, and now currently responsible for coordinating meeting logistics for physicians and pharma reps throughout the United States. In my spare time, I work at Peace4Kids a non-profit in South Los Angeles and write screenplays in hopes to make a breakthrough.
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