Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell cover

Themes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Ulver · 1998

101 min · 19 tracks · black metal · synth-pop · experimental rock

A haunting blend of industrial sounds and ethereal vocals that evokes Blake's visionary poetry.

Why this album works

This album is notable for its ambitious conceptual approach, intertwining music with William Blake's philosophical ideas, which helped to solidify Ulver's reputation in the avant-garde scene. Its critical reception was largely positive, earning a place in discussions about the evolution of metal and experimental music during the late 90s.
Best for
dynamic exploration of soundscapes hauntingly ethereal vocal moments wave-like pacing with peaks
Context
Released on December 17, 1998, this album marked Ulver's transition from black metal to a more experimental sound. It followed their acclaimed debut album 'Bergtatt', showcasing an artistic shift as they embraced avant-garde influences and literary themes in their music.
Stylistic neighbors
Arcturus· Burzum· Swans

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 The Argument, Plate 2 4:03
  • 2 Plate 3 2:48
  • 3 Plate 3, following 1:33
  • 4 The Voice of the Devil, Plate 4 Standout 2:49
  • 5 Plates 5–6 2:31
  • 6 A Memorable Fancy, Plates 6–7 4:24
  • 7 Proverbs of Hell, Plates 7–10 Standout 9:06
  • 8 Plate 11 2:01
  • 9 Instrumental 1 3:26
  • 10 A Memorable Fancy, Plates 12–13 5:59
  • 11 Plate 14 2:08
  • 12 A Memorable Fancy, Plate 15 4:51
  • 13 Plates 16–17 3:17

Disc 2

  • 1 A Memorable Fancy, Plates 17–20 11:23
  • 2 Instrumental 2 2:27
  • 3 Plates 21–22 3:11
  • 4 A Memorable Fancy, Plates 22–24 4:50
  • 5 Instrumental 3 3:59
  • 6 A Song of Liberty, Plates 25–27 / Chorus Standout 26:23

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata