With this album, BORKNAGAR reached their peak. Musically speaking, "The Archaic Course" hardly differs in any substantial way from its predecessor, "The Olden Domain." The latest lineup shuffle replaced the outgoing Garm with the well-known ICS Vortex (ARCTURUS, DIMMU BORGIR). However, the ominous aura of mediocrity hanging like a dome over the band forced poor Vortex to suppress his individuality and run along a pre-drawn path...
So what do we have here? We have black metal. Parameters such as epicness, melodicism, brutality, and cerebral complexity unfortunately defy precise measurement, which creates inevitable problems when comparing "The Archaic Course" with "The Olden Domain." And since science is powerless here, we rely on feeling. And feeling says the ingredients are the same, but the proportions are different. It's like the same stained glass window — just with the light falling differently...
Unlike other albums, there are tracks that immediately sink their iron teeth and claws into you. "The Witching Hour," for instance — not without some influence from label-mates ARCTURUS, admittedly... On the whole though, this is an acquired taste. Philosophically restrained malice...