I – and many others – await with eager anticipation the new Burzum album, which has changed titles from Den Hvite Guden (The White God), to Belus. The name change has come about because of the racist connotations of the previous name, which apparently Varg had “no idea” would be misinterpreted. Accident or deliberate publicity stunt? I’ll leave it to you to decide.

Belus

Belus will be released March 8 from Byelborg Productions. All the details of the track listing, lyrics and ordering info are now available. You can hunt around on Youtube and find a few previews, and I bloody love what I hear.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: I abhor Varg’s racist and political views. Reading his website gives me the creeps, but his music sends shivvers up my spine – the good kind of shivvers. He creates this world inside your head – a play of light and shadows, melody and static, order and chaos, which I suppose is a little like him.

Filosofern is probably one of my all-time favorite albums, ever. He captures something beautiful and primal in that static. I’m not a fangirl, I won’t ever stick up for his opinions, but I do believe he has unquestionable talent for creating beautiful music.

You can read about Varg’s earlier article about the release and his forthright opinions on the modern black metal scene on the Burzum website.

The album will be an exploration of Varg’s interpretation of the White God (Belus, Apollon, Baldr, Belenus, Bragi, Byelobog, Jarilo …) and the events that mark his yearly life.

Den Hvite Guden – like the other Burzum albums – will also feature releases of older tracks. “Urak-hai”, from 1988-89, and “Dauði Baldrs” from 1993, although both have lyrical and stylistic changes to match the new concept.

Black Speech

In other Burzum news, Varg has approved a book by Antony Cummius called Burzum: Black Speech, which is a collection of fantasy stories based around Burzum lyrics, and as soon as I get my hands on a copy, a review will appear. Varg is also now in Urban Dictionary. he’s moving up in the world.