"Bergtatt" really amazed me on first listen. Quite a fantastic record. Because Ulver never really stayed in one place with their music, they never got the true respect which they deserve.

The album is based on a Norweigen legend where young girls could be drawn into the mountain woods by the evil spirits that dwelled within. So we are given five "chapters" (all in Norsk) that play out that legend.

Capitel I - An excellent song. Starts off with fast drumming and a melodic riff. Garm's vocals are completely clean on this track (as it is sort of the romantic song before the "plot" gets going). It later moves into a galloping guitar part, reminiscent of Opeth (or Opeth is reminiscent of this, whatever you heard first). "Bergtatt" is worth getting just for this track.

Capitel II - Starts off with acoustic guitar and flute (which we would later here more of on "Kveldsfanger") and moves into a fast, misanthropic black metal song. Garm was one of the most evil sounding black metal vocalists before he went completely "clean" on the later Ulver albums. Clean vocals are soon brought back into this song however. Another fantastic track.

Capitel III - The most "black metal" song on the album. Quite impressive, fast and evil. This track, however, contains the album's only real flaw. Half way through, the music dissapears and we hear what is supposed to be, somebody running through the woods. But if you have a perverted mind, you will be quick to note that it sounds a like a guy jerking off in a bush with a piano.

Capitel IV - The calmest, and shortest track on the CD. Mostly acoustic guitar and chantlike singing. Quite well done. It could be considered as an "interlude".

Capitel V - The closing track which nicely pulls all elements of the album together. Yet again, amazing stuff.

"Bergtatt" is a superb record, and possibly Ulver's best.

A

© 2000 raagoonshinnaah