Quintessence (Borknagar album)

Quintessence
Studio album by Borknagar
Released	April 17, 2000
Recorded	2000
Genre	Melodic black metal Progressive metal Folk metal
Length	43:28
Label	Century Media Records
Producer	Borknagar Peter Tägtgren
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Borknagar chronology
The Archaic Course (1998) Quintessence (2000) Empiricism (2001)

Quintessence is Borknagar's fourth studio album, and the final studio album by the band to feature ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) on vocals. It was recorded at The Abyss Studios in January 2000, and mixed by Peter Tägtgren. According to interviews, this album was meant to be a strictly straight-forward black metal album, as shown on the production quality and the fact that ICS Vortex's vocals are more of the traditional black metal screams and growls, with less clean singing. This album marks bassist Kai K Lie's departure from the band, with vocalist ICS Vortex taking over bass duties. It also marks the departure of keyboardist Ivar Bjørnson (being replaced with Lars A. Nedland) and drummer Grim (being replaced with Asgeir Mickelson), who incidentally committed suicide a few months before the album's release.

Track listing

1. "Rivalry of Phantoms"– 4:36
2. "The Presence is Ominous" – 4:55
3. "Ruins of the Future" – 4:55
4. "Colossus" – 4:27
5. "Inner Landscape" – 2:51
6. "Invincible" – 4:25
7. "Icon Dreams" – 4:32
8. "Genesis Torn" – 5:16
9. "Embers" – 1:26
10. "Revolt" – 6:05

Credits

• Øystein G. Brun – guitar
• ICS Vortex – vocals, bass
• Asgeir Mickelson – drums
• Jens F. Ryland – guitar
• Lars A. Nedland – keyboards