Hey! Remember last week when we posted about Ulver vocalist Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg possibly returning to Borknagar to lay down some vocals for the first time since 1997? Well we were right! Rygg is not only layign down some guest vocals for the group since his departure during Borknagar's black metal days, but he's also taking the lead on one song! Holy shit!
According to a statement posted by Blabbermouth and made Borknagar's own Øystein G. Brun, Rygg sound absolutely astonishing on the record.
"These days, 20 years ago, Kristoffer and I hooked up for the very first time in Bergen to record vocals for the Borknagar debut album. Glorious days, indeed. Last night I was barely asleep as I got the first vocal samples from Kristoffer late yesterday evening and have been listening to the songs repeatedly since then.
"Being a former bandmate and a huge fan of his work ever since we parted ways back in the days, I certainly did expect a lot, but what he sent over this time around surpasses every expectations. Really! Still trying to get my jaw back in position and the goosebumps seem to have turned chronic on me.
"Kristoffer performs the lead vocals for one full song called 'Winter Thrice' and does additional vocals for another opus called 'Terminus'. Being a profoundly nostalgic person, this makes me reflect about how damn lucky I am to have been able to work with some of the finest vocalists in the world throughout the years. Musically, the upcoming album will be a celebration of just that.
"Along with the vocals of Vintersorg, ICS Vortex and Lazare, it should be needless to argue that this will be a very special album! Massively so!"
You realize this means the new album might be black metal as fuck, right? ICS Vortex has been in the band again since 2010 after departing in 2000 and now Rygg is back! Rygg was in the group back when it was members of Gorgorth and Enslaved as well, so who knows what he'll bring to the table all these years later!
The new album will be mixed in June by the seemingly ever-present Jens Bogren and is due out this fall.
