Review by illusionist for Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler (1995)

With this righteous album, Ulver smashed the standards and barriers set by the black metal bands before them and created their own playbook.

One that none have managed to entirely recapture since (perhaps The Mantle came closest in spirit). Bergtatt is simultaneously raw and celestially atmospheric, seamlessly integrating the grim Norwegian Black Metal template with lush acoustic and sparse Scandinavian folk sounds. There is wonderful contrast in that. For example, between Garm's angelic chants and his otherworldy shrieks. The clean vocals are a surprisingly perfect fit for the music, with "I Troldskog Faren Vild" being the best showcase of this - an absolute classic. With the repeating outro guitar melody, you will be ascending, spinning towards the stars. 

"Soelen Gaaer Bag Aase Need" and "Graablick Blev Hun Vaer" are equally good. The soundscapes captured here make one feel like a wayward soul wandering across a mountainous landscape under a full moon. This music is truly serene yet sinister and enchanting. The interludes of Nordic folk music that Garm adds, like the beginning of Capitel III, most of Capitel IV and the end of Capitel V, augment the already splendid and innovative black metal fare in a way no one had done before in the genre. This creates some deliciously abrupt yet purposeful dynamic shifts, completing the spiritually transcendental experience that is Bergtatt.

Oh gosh, I'm going on and on like a fanboy. Oops. I'll just let you go listen to it in the mountains for yourself and stop spoiling everything. One of my favorite and most spiritual pieces of music of all-time.