Hvis lyset tar oss

Cover art by Theodor Kittelsen

Studio album by Burzum

Released

April 1994

Recorded

September 1992 at Grieg Hall in Bergen

Genre

Black metal, dark ambient

Length

44:27

Label

Misanthropy, Cymophane

Producer

Count Grishnackh, Pytten

Burzum chronology

Det som engang var
(1993)

Hvis lyset tar oss
(1994)

Filosofem
(1996)

Music sample

"Tomhet"

Alternate cover

Reissue cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Sputnikmusic

Hvis lyset tar oss (Norwegian for If the Light Takes Us) is the third studio album by Norwegian black metal solo project Burzum. It was recorded in September 1992, but was not released until April 1994, whereupon it was released through Misanthropy Records and Vikernes' own record label, Cymophane Productions. The album is considered a classic in the black metal scene.

Varg Vikernes recorded the first four Burzum albums between January 1992 and March 1993 at the Grieg Hall in Bergen. However, the releases were spread out, with many months between the recording and the release of each album. During this time, Vikernes became a part of the early Norwegian black metal scene and befriended Mayhem guitarist Euronymous. The two developed a feud that culminated in Vikernes stabbing Euronymous to death in his apartment building in Oslo in August 1993. He was arrested a few days later and, in May 1994, was sentenced to 21 years (the maximum sentence in Norway) in prison for murder and several church arsons.

The album cover features a drawing by 19th century artist Theodor Kittelsen named Fattigmannen (The Pauper). Vikernes dedicated the album to Fenriz of fellow Norwegian black metal band Darkthrone and "Demonas", possibly referring to Demonaz from Norwegian black metal band Immortal. Promotional copies sent to fanzines included the song "Et hvitt lys over skogen" (Norwegian for "A White Light Over the Forest") instead of "Tomhet". "Et hvitt lys over skogen" later appeared on the 1998 compilation album Presumed Guilty.

...
Wikipedia