Burzum

Burzum is a solo musical project of black metal and Norwegian dungeon synth, from Bergen. Formed in 1991 by Varg Vikernes, it is an eminent group of early Norwegian black metal scene. Varg Vikernes provides all the instruments as he believes that having "more than one person in an artistic project is always a compromise". However, some guests also played in some of the early compositions.

After recording four Burzum albums, Varg Vikernes was sentenced in 1994 to 21 years' imprisonment (the maximum sentence in Norway) for the murder of Øystein Aarseth (also known as Euronymous), the black metal band Mayhem, and for arson of four churches. So Varg records in prison dark ambient albums for lack of access to appropriate instruments for metal. He was released on May 24, 2009, released on parole after 16 years behind bars, and has since recorded three new black metal albums. In June 2018, Varg Vikernes announces the end of Burzum>.

Burzum's musical style is characterized by its dark and icy atmosphere, with frequent repetitions of simple melodic structures and a less fast and frenetic rhythm usually associated with black metal in general.

The name "Burzum" originates from a language built by J. R. R. Tolkien presents in his trilogy The Lord of the Rings that passionate young Varg Vikernes. This word means "darkness" in the black talk of Sauron. In particular, the single ring bears the inscription "A Ring to bring them all and in the darkness to bind them". Varg Vikernes explains on Burzum's official website that he has always preferred Sauron, the Orcs and Mordor's forces in this work, who represent to him his "ancestors" Vikings and pagan gods, while the hobbits, men, dwarves and elves would be uninteresting and of Christian inspiration. Vikernes considers that Christians would have demonized the pagan gods, so he would have been naturally attracted to all that was considered "bad" by Christians. Varg Vikernes explains: "the darkness of Christians was my light. So all in all it was natural that I use the name Burzum>. "