Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 this one's a bit more challenging December 24, 2004
J. Mayo (Cumberland, ME USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Well, I am a huge fan, have all the cd's, got the t-shirt, etc. This cd was a little more difficult to digest. I said the same thing about each cd as it came out. And six months after that, I came to the conclusion that the cd was better than the last. I can't yet say the same of this one. Along the same lines as Empiricism, however it shows Vintersorg's influence much more. Even the lyrical content has shifted a bit toward Sorgs' style. His singing is more eccentric, along the lines of his own band, and pulls away from the ICS Vortex legacy. I have no complaints about that, even though Archaic Course is my favorite. His vocals have improved, no doubt about that. The drumming has changed a bit, not as much to my liking. It might be a bit too repetitive, too predictable for him, and maybe a touch too many double bass beats for the time. The bass? Yeah, it's there, and done well, but you have to listen for it, the dual role hurt neither drums nor the bass... much. The guitar has never been one of the "key" points of this band, but there seems to be some actual riffs thrown around. Personally i think that aspect is much improved. The keyboards have also integrated themselves much better on this one, but not becoming overwhelming, unlike some other, better known bands in the genre. Some of the keyboard melodies are just creepy, some technical sounding, all original. A job well done there. I just dont know what it is though, this one has all that Empiricism had, and more, but refuses to unlock itself and prove to be a superior album. I'll give it an 8 out of 10 and a few more listens...
 Borknager gone powermetal?! December 14, 2005
phatpudgybaby
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
(I'm giving them a 3 in relation to how they USED TO SOUND; otherwise this would be a 4...)I really don't like Vintersorgs nasal voice...it seems to get more annoying with every play. Really that intro to #10 The Inner Ocean Hypothesis("Algaeeee & Plankton" ughhh! unbearable NASAL sound!Listen to it yourself!)...
I miss the old cold Borknager with Maelstrom's voice(it was sooo much more sexier/darker). Don't get me wrong the lyrics are interesting(more like essays for each song) but they aren't very black metal. These lyrics are something you'd find in a power metal band. The sound is still heavy and variant with layers of different instrumentation going on. But it seems like they are headed in the POWER METAL direction and that ain't my cup of tea.
 meh... August 25, 2004
Willo (MI USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
borknagar have always been one of those bands, while they are talented and vary their sound from album to album, never really seem to release anything that you will go back to over and over again. Q is really the only borknagar album i enjoy while only disliking 2 or 3 songs.
don't get me wrong, vintersorg is an amazing vocalist and i love his work with borknagar, and the musicians (especially the drummer) can obviously play, but the problem is that they seem so focused on creating "epic" songwriting, that most of their songs come off as completely boring. what i usually find is that the first 2 or 3 songs are really strong and i can go back and listen to them over and over, but the rest of the album just seems lost and boring. epic is no exception, in fact, sometimes many of the songs seem to blend together, which is nothing i would expect from borknagar.
as much as i really want to like this band and "epic", i can never get past 'traveller.' if you are a hardcore borknagar fan, you'll probably dig this, but i think this is a step back from their past works.
 Great Album from Borknagar. November 7, 2007
Alexia (Houston, TX)
This is actually my first Borknagar cd with Vintersorg as the vocalist. I first got into the band since I'm a big fan of Vortex. Vortex and Vintersorg have different singing abilities. I decided to give it a try with Vintersorg vocals. I did enjoy listening to vocals. Epic is a great album with really good songs, I may give Empiricism a try since I've heard good reviews on it.
A Refreshing Sound. July 19, 2006
A Fall Farewell (Fenton, MI)
Borknagar really impressed me with this release this being the first I'd heard from them I went out and got Empiricism, and that's just as good! What I love about these guys is no one sounds exactly like them, they have their own brand of Black/Folk/Prog metal that I have not heard anywhere else quite like this. The keyboards give them part of their unique sound combined with the guitars which aren't featured, but are not down played either. But what really put's Borknagar over the top is Vintersorg's incredible vocals. He goes from a black metal growl to soaring melodic singing which added with the music is mind blowing. Do yourself a favor and put down the As I Lay Dying, Trivium, Underoath, Unearth or whatever typical metalcore you're listening to and try something original for a change.
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