BORKNAGAR - ALL 12 Albums RANKED (Including FALL!)

[@Grv-16]

I randomly discovered Borknagar during Covid and was amazed by them. I was wondering why no one was talking about this band. Now with the new album, everybody is talking about them! Rightfully so. Can't wait to listen to Fall! Great video. Thanks guys!

[@edwardplain4688]

New ablum is absolutely amaze balls

[@forgemastermetal]

Sure is!

[@brendanhayter3869]

First album is a black metal fav!

[@nathanstruck360]

Great list as always! New album is unfuckingbelievably good, Vortex especially just kills it with his vocal performance. This is on non-stop repeat for me, early AoTY contender for aure.

[@forgemastermetal]

I had a long car ride today and I let it ride 4 times on repeat. Still love it.

[@hsmetalhb2036]

Great Ranking... Fall is on constant replay since it came out... I love this Band! I got into them with Winter Thrice, and what a great starting point that was. Keep up your great work - thx!

[@LurchyScott]

The new album might honestly end up being tied or at the very least being just below Winter Thrice for me in terms of my favourite Borknagar record. I get fucking goosebumps listening to Fall and when an album does that to me I know it's something fucking special.

[@forgemastermetal]

Same, it gets better every spin

[@madsstavang]

Nice ranking! The Archaic Course was my intro to this band. I absolutely love it. One of my favorite Borknagar albums for sure. I'm also a big fan of acts like Mr Bungle, so weird shit is my jam! The last album is huge, and I must say that Vortex vocals are aging like fine wine. His harsh vocals on Summit is the best by far and his amazing cleans have not lost their edge at all. I just saw a video from a Dimmu Borgir concert this year, where Vortex did guest vocals for 1 song. He absolutely killed it!

[@danfos9053]

Thanks guys I got some listening to do. Picked up Quintessence when it came out. Kept an ear out for them since but nothing really else grabbed me like it did. You've changed my mind

[@jdwdrums]

Absolutely criminal to not put Empiricism in S tier. Right to jail. Right away.

[@forgemastermetal]

We said it’s basically S, and we only allow ourselves 1 S tier to keep these lists interesting.

[@agamersdiary1622]

@@forgemastermetal you had more than one for other bands tho

[@jdwdrums]

@@agamersdiary1622right

[@forgemastermetal]

@@agamersdiary1622 Ben and I had the same S tier.

[@adam.e.nowakowski]

I know it's waaay too early to call any album one of the best of 2024, but I've been listening to "Fall" since January 3rd and I tell you what, if this year brings enough fantastic material for me to drop Borknagar from my Top 5 of 2024, this will be a hell of a sick year!

[@forgemastermetal]

Couldn't agree more!

[@frankjones1830]

I was starting to believe that I’m the only huge fan of ‘Empiricism’. It was where I came in and I still love it.

[@forgemastermetal]

Is that your S tier?

[@frankjones1830]

@@forgemastermetal It used to be but I’m right with you guys on ‘Winter Thrice’. It’s everything that Borknagar excels at.

[@jmp0035]

I started with The Olden Domain, and when Empiricism came out it felt like the ultimate expression of the band.

[@darksideinferno3454]

Another great Ranking Video! The new one is absolute Killer! The last four are my favorite's! 💀🤘💀🤘💀🤘

[@forgemastermetal]

They're SO good!!

[@Brendo2386]

I actually really love The Archaic Course

[@smote_his_ruin]

Winter Thrice is pretty front loaded man. The first two tracks tower above the rest of the album. I have to revisit it. Because I think at the time, the first two tracks were so good by the time Panorama came on I just restarted the album.

[@forgemastermetal]

I hear you!

[@ssofianos]

What an amazing journey fall is 😊 wonderful band i love them

[@forgemastermetal]

Yes they are!

[@muzz798]

I've been listening to symphonic black metal since 1996 but these guys never grabbed me - until UNTIL Fall this year. What a brilliant album. I'm guilty of dismissing this band for years as I'm also loving True North and Winter Thrice. But before that - not for me. The last 3 albums though incredible.

[@Shikigamifuneral758]

I wish garm was on more albums than just the first 2 because his vocals are amazing.

[@forgemastermetal]

Total agree

[@heresyisprogress]

The original line up was fucking killer. Garm on vocals, Ivar from Enslaved on keys, Infernus and Grim from Gorgoroth on guitar and drums. Probably the first black metal supergroup.

[@smote_his_ruin]

His scream is too high pitched and can get annoying for me. I can handle it in medium sized doses, but on Borknagar and Nattens Madrigal its just too much. Bergtatt and Olden Domain are the sweet spots for me. Obviously his clean vocals are legendary.

[@Shikigamifuneral758]

​@@heresyisprogressoh yeah incredible lineup, pretty sure Arcturus was the first black metal supergroup though.

[@heresyisprogress]

@Shikigamifuneral758 yeah you're probably right. Was Hellhammer in Arcturus before Mayhem even?

[@JamesScarborough5290]

Firstly, great Novembre shirt! Also great to see Borknagar get some good analysis. Pretty hard to judge an album that has only been out a couple of days against the back catalogue. Good rankings. I’d bring Urd down a bit and Quintessence up. They’re a lot more commercial these days as well. Definitely some accessible material on last three albums. Great video!

[@forgemastermetal]

Thanks man! Great insight and thoughts! What’s your S tier?

[@JamesScarborough5290]

@@forgemastermetal If I have to go with a single album for S tier, I'd probably go True North. They have such high quality in all of their eras that it's really hard to make that call, but with tracks like 'Up North', 'Lights' and 'Voices', it's hard to beat as far as highlights go. However, I do feel that I'm selling out a bit, as that album is also aimed at a broader audience and it's not really fair to compare it to the debut, Quintessence or the Vintersorg albums, which hit at different targets. Every era's a winner. You guys have done a great job separating them, that's for sure!

[@enferex]

I love Borknagar, their release from this past Friday is fantastic (my best-of list 2024). What appeals to me with Borknagar are the interesting vocals combined with progressions that keep the music alluring. Winter Thrice is my "official" festivus tune. Welp, looks like I have some catching up to do in terms of their older catalog, I'm sure many other will appreciate this list! Thanks!

[@forgemastermetal]

Would love to know what you think of The Olden Domain. Man, that album is a gem

[@blackwaterrust476]

This Modern Era of the band has been Magical. Urd-New album have all been fantastic and to me Borknagar and Enslaved successfully filled the Void Opeth left behind for Progressive metal with Death/Black Metal elements. My favorite overall album they have done though is Olden Domain, love that raw more melodic black metal side and Garm gives one of his best performances in his career imo.

[@tonyziporlin4240]

Great video, guys! In my humble opinion I would swap the entire B tier with the entire C tier. That may just be nostalgia talking though lol.

[@forgemastermetal]

It’s funny how that works for us metalheads lol

[@Whereowlsknowmyname]

Great job guys!

[@forgemastermetal]

🤙🔥

[@747jono]

Love this band ❤💯💯💯💯🤘🤘

[@forgemastermetal]

What’s your fav album?

[@747jono]

@forgemastermetal Winter Thrice, True North and Fall . Love the earlier ones to. They seem to exceed album to album all great but add that little bit extra everytime just like Insomnium yeah 🤘🤘🤘🤘💯💯

[@MrOmac09]

12. Origin 11. Universal 10. The Archaic Course 9. Quintessence 8. Epic 7. True North 6. Self Titled 5. Fall 4. Urd 3. Winter Thrice 2. Empiricism 1. The Olden Domain

[@Josheatsbooks]

Do Enslaved tier list next!!!

[@TravelingHC]

Borknagar is awesome! 🤘🤩🤘

[@forgemastermetal]

Sure are!

[@barsknos]

I've been listening to these guys since Olden Domain and to me Quintessence was the best they ever did before the late 2010s. I really can't stand Vintersorg's clean vocals, so that might be why. I'm stoked that he's finally gone and I can enjoy these guys again :D

[@forgemastermetal]

I’m not sure I know anyone who doesn’t dig vintersorg, that’s a first!

[@barsknos]

@@forgemastermetal Maybe it's just my Norwegian bias tilting from his thick Swedish accent tainting a Norwegian folk-influenced blackmetal band :D (I love both Swedes and Swedish metal though, so who knows)

[@deadliestassassin3092]

Quintessence and then the Olden Domain easily their best.

[@Kataxu]

Awesome Novembre shirt!!!!!!! I need that!!!!!!!!!!

[@forgemastermetal]

Get it!

[@danielschmidt8355]

For me the first album will always be the album. It stands outside of any ranking for me ....cause i bought it on the day of release :) But i can understand anyone who learns about this album in retrospective. I lost track in the middle band phase and rejoined in their late phase so i really like their latest 3 albums.

[@forgemastermetal]

Did you find our ranking helpful in rediscovering some of those middle era releases?

[@deamonpainter1443]

Universal is on Spotify btw.

[@forgemastermetal]

Good catch. The Remaster is.

[@HCmetal022]

Man, I gotta put 1998 “the Arctic Circle” at S tier. I’m more of a prog guy though, but it was easy for me to get into that album because it’s only 38 minutes just a lot of crazy grooves and riiffs

[@forgemastermetal]

I don’t blame ya man!

[@smote_his_ruin]

That album is basically a ICS Vortex showcase. Absolutely epic!

[@TXmetal72]

Nice Novembre shirt!

[@forgemastermetal]

Heck yeah!! Kind of an Easter Egg because Borkangar and Novembre did a split some time back haha.

[@heresyisprogress]

I'm probably too much of a trve kvlt closeminded butthole about Borknagar - I absolutely adore and still spin the first two albums, liked the next two okay but not digging the proggier direction you could tell they were going to lean more and more into, and by the time they did the first album with Vintersorg I was completely checked out. Over the years, I've periodically checked out songs during random promo cycles for whatever current album they had out and just never felt it. I had a similiar experience with Enslaved, but I was still on board up to maybe Below the Lights. Proggy, but still vicious under the surface. Then they fired their best line-up and leaned into prog and "epic". You guys should definitely do an Enslaved ranking soon.

[@forgemastermetal]

Maybe we will man! Glad to hear you love The Olden Domain. I absolutely looooove that record

[@Josaphar]

Winter Thrice is one of the best metal albums ever!!

[@PamelaCapurro]

The firts two songs, yes.

[@Count_Deangeli]

I'm one of those narrow minded purists when it comes to black metal and love only the debut but the new album has couple of spectacular songs

[@forgemastermetal]

Sounds like you might come around to their new stuff eventually!

[@PamelaCapurro]

My list: Empiricism URD The Olden Domain Quintessence The Archaic Course Winter Thrice Epic Borknagar Universal Origin True North Fall 😏

[@forgemastermetal]

Is that from favorite to least favorite??

[@mikepenny8940]

You were a young teenager in 1997? Dang, im old. Lol. I was hitting the quarter century mark then😅

[@forgemastermetal]

Age with grace, Forgemate!

[@taolinnegar9961]

I'm 35 Years Old now !!!

[@forgemastermetal]

Wow!

[@benshaw2341]

universal and origin above quintessence and the debut is INSANE. epic is ok, mostly saved by asgeir on drums. Save for empiricism, mid bork is weakest bork.

[@forgemastermetal]

Mid bork is weakest bork should be a tshirt

[@smote_his_ruin]

Its criminal that Q and Archaic are the lowest lol. Those are two of their best for sure. My rankings: S Tier: The Olden Domain A Tier: Urd, The Archaic Course, Quintessence, Empiricism B Tier: Epic, Fall, True North, Winter Thrice C Tier: Universal D Tier: Borknagar, Origins

[@forgemastermetal]

Eyyy call the Borknagar police lmao. Appreciate you sharing your list. Everyone enjoys them differently!

[@1988dragoncom]

Next time do dimmu Borger

[@1988dragoncom]

If we want to name best 10 black metal bands From Norway 🇳🇴 Definitely Borknagar is in the lest