@borknagar - True North (@centurymedia) Fucking Epic For their follow-up to 2016's Winter Thrice, Borknagar sound even more wild, passionate, furious, contemplative. Progressive, symphonic metal erupts into furious firestorms of black metal blastbeats and moments of gorgeous, contemplative neofolk! Borknagar lost three long-term members before recording True North. This is the way forward, the new direction. True North is a portent of things to come and glad tidings they seem to be. I'm going to be real w/ you. Am VERY particular about progressive/symphonic metal. While i tend to appreciate the musicianship, it tips over into bloated cheesiness so easily, like a Ren Faire castoff at Medieval Times trying to sing about the Allfather over cut-rate Poison instrumentals. It's a difficult balance to get right, which is part of why i even mention True North. Borknagar really nail it on this one. Production is crystal clear. Musicianship is as tight as a snare drum. The clarity lends itself well to #ICSVortex's vocals, shimmering in a psychedelic chorused shimmer similar to mid-era Tool or early A Perfect Circle, lending itself to the heroic feel, the feeling of exploration and wild mysticism. Score: 8.5/10 (at Bergen, Hordaland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B27juXYBw_E/?igshid=pkangijmqq8h