Aske (EP)

{{Infobox album

| name = Aske

| type = ep

| artist = Burzum

| cover = Burzum aske.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|1993|3}}

| recorded = September 1992

| venue =

| studio = Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway

| genre = Black metal

| length = {{Duration|m=20|s=2}}

| language = Norwegian, English

| label = Deathlike Silence

| producer = Count Grishnackh, Pytten

| prev_title = Burzum

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Det som engang var

| next_year = 1993

}}

{{album ratings

|rev1=AllMusic

|rev1score={{rating|4.5|5}} (Burzum / Aske version)[https://www.allmusic.com/album/burzum-aske-mw0000455518 allmusic review]

}}

Aske (Norwegian for Ashes) is an EP by Norwegian black metal solo project Burzum. Though recorded in April and August 1992, after Det som engang var, it was released before that album in March 1993, through Deathlike Silence Productions.

Background

The cover is a photograph of the Fantoft Stave Church after its arson on 6 June 1992. Varg Vikernes was strongly suspected of burning the church, and the photograph is widely believed to have been taken by Vikernes himself.{{cite book |last=Christe |first=Ian |title=Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Inc |year=2003 |location=New York City, New York |page=277}}{{cite news |last=Campion |first=Chris |date=20 February 2005 |title=In the Face of Death |newspaper=The Observer |publisher=Guardian Unlimited |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/feb/20/popandrock4 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}

According to the official Burzum website, the cover photograph was taken by Are Mundal. In an interview, Mundal stated that Vikernes, a longtime friend, asked him to visit the site of the church shortly after the fire and take photographs, of which one became the album cover. Mundal was initially regarded as a suspect in the arson, but was cleared of all charges. Vikernes allegedly had the photos developed in Sweden in order to fend off suspicion.{{cite interview|last1=Mundal|first1=Are|last2=Moen|first2=Christian|last3=Rødland|first3=Finn|title=Interview with Are Mundal By Christian Moen & Finn Håkon Rødland|date=28 December 2019}}

Bass guitar on two of the tracks is performed by Samoth of the band Emperor.

A tape version featuring the old title of the release Inn I Drømmens Slott (Norwegian for "Into the Castle of Dreams") were made by Varg and spread by him and Samoth, the album was initially intended to be released on Varg's personal label called "Burz-Nazg Prod" (later Cymophane) before the Deathlike Silence Prod. pressing.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Burzum-Inn-I-Dr%C3%B8mmens-Slott/release/6286466|title=Burzum – Inn I Drømmens Slott|date=1992 |publisher=Discogs|accessdate=14 August 2018}}

Release

The first 1000 copies of Aske were packaged with a lighter bearing the album cover's image of Fantoft Stave Church's remains.{{cite web |url=http://www.burzum.org/eng/discography/official/1993_aske.shtml |title=Burzum – Discography – Official Releases – 'Aske' (mini-LP) 1993 |work=burzum.org |accessdate=13 August 2012}}

Aske was later re-released as Burzum / Aske alongside the songs from Burzum's debut album.