Dimmu Borgir (pronounced Dim-moo-bore-gear, ) is a black metal band from Norway. "Dimmu Borgir" means "Dark Castles" in Icelandic and Old Norse, the name is derived from a volcanic formation found in Iceland, Dimmuborgir.
Biography
Dimmu Borgir started as a melodic black metal band in 1993. Formed by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv, the band released an EP in 1994 entitled
Inn I Evighetens Mørke (in English:"Into The Darkness of Eternity"). This short EP sold out within weeks, and the band followed up with the 1994 full length album
For All Tid. This album featured musical contributions by members of Dødheimsgard and Ved Buens Ende. The initial lineup consisted of Shagrath playing drums with Tjodalv on guitar and Silenoz covering vocals, however this changed before the release of
Stormblåst (translates to "Storm Blown") on Cacophonous Records in 1996.
Stormblåst received high praise from many melodic black metal fans, and is often regarded as a highlight of the band's career. It is also the last album which features all lyrics written and sung in Norwegian.
After
Stormblåst, Dimmu Borgir's lineup took a sharp turn. Keyboard Stian Aarstad left the band due to his obligation to serve in the Norwegian army, thus being unable to participate in the 1996 recording of
Devil's Path. That period was also marked by the leave of their bassist Brynjard Tristan and the arrival of Nagash. Stian Aarstad returned for the recording of 1997's
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. While on tour to support the album, he had trouble attending rehearsals and being on tour, and was subsequently fired.
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant was a huge success for the band, and was their first release signed to Nuclear Blast, a well-known German record label. The album was recorded in the Abyss Studios, owned by Hypocrisy's frontman Peter Tägtgren.
After the tour for
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, the band recruited new members Mustis on keyboards and Astennu on second guitar, for Shagrath to concentrate on vocals.
Dimmu Borgir's following full-length albums
Spiritual Black Dimensions in 1999 and 2001's
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, both met critical acclaim.
Despite regular video play on MTV2 and Fuse TV that their follow-up album would receive, the band has stated that they are not "commercially-oriented," and instead, they 'simply wish to spread their message to more people'. In 2003, Dimmu Borgir used their major record label financial leverage to record an album titled
Death Cult Armageddon. Sections of the album were recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to enhance the classical arrangements which have always augmented the band's style. In 2004, Dimmu Borgir headlined Ozzfest.
In 2005, the band did a complete re-recording of the
Stormblåst album, featuring Hellhammer of Mayhem as the session drummer. Hellhammer's other notable contributions include the metal bands Arcturus, Shining, Mezzerschmitt, Winds, and The Kovenant, among many others.
Dimmu Borgir's new album,
In Sorte Diaboli, was released April 24, 2007. A special edition version comes in a boxed case with a DVD, backward lyrics and a mirror. The album artwork was released on February 14, 2007 on a promotional webpage for the album
[1].With the release of this album, Dimmu Borgir became the first black metal band with a number one album in their native country.
[2]The band were recently announced for British Heavy Metal festival "Bloodstock" in August 2008, this date is said to be a one off, and the only UK date that the band will play in 2008.
Discography
Studio albums
- For All Tid (1994)
- Stormblåst (1996)
- Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
- Godless Savage Garden (1998)
- Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999)
- Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
- Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
- Stormblåst MMV (2005)
- In Sorte Diaboli (2007)
EPs
- Inn I Evighetens Mørke (1994)
- Devil's Path (1996)
- Sons of Satan Gather for Attack (split EP with Old Man's Child) (1999)
- True Kings of Norway (split with Emperor, Immortal, Ancient, and Arcturus) (2000)
- Alive in Torment (2001)
- World Misanthropy (2002)
Singles
- "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" (2003)
- "Vredesbyrd" (2003)
- "The Serpentine Offering" (2007)
- "The Sacrilegious Scorn" (2007)
Bootlegs
- The Absence Of Light (Live At Roskilde '98) (1998)
- Spiritual Darkness Alive in Europe (2000)
- The Gods Of Darkness (2000)
- Live at Lowlands 2408 (2002)
- Live at Paradiso 02.10.2003 (2003)
Demos
Videography
DVDs
- Live & Plugged Vol. 2 (Live Split with Dissection) (1997)
- World Misanthropy (2002)
- Ozzfest 2004 Live in San Antonio (Bonus disc with United States edition of Stormblåst MMV)
- In Sorte Diaboli Limited Edition Bonus DVD (Making of In Sorte Diaboli and making of The Serpentine Offering) (2007)
Music videos
- "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" (2003)
- "Sorgens Kammer ? Del II" (2005)
- "The Serpentine Offering" (2007)
- "The Sacrilegious Scorn" (2007)
Members
Current line up
- Shagrath (Stian Thoresen) ? vocals (1993?present)
- Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) ? guitar (1993?present)
- Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) ? keyboard (1998?present)
- ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) ? bass guitar, clean vocals (1999?present)
- Galder (Thomas Rune Andersen) ? guitar (2000?present)
- Tony Laureano ? drums (session drummer) (2004?2005, 2007?present)
Former members
- Stian Aarstad ? keyboard (1993?1997)
- Tjodalv (Kenneth Åkesson) ? drums (1993?1999)
- Brynjard Tristan (Ivar Tristan Lundsten) ? bass guitar (1994?1996)
- Nagash (Stian Arnesen) ? bass guitar (1996?1999)
- Kimberly Goss - keyboard (live) (1997?1998)
- Astennu (Jamie Stinson) ? guitar (1997?1999)
- Aggressor (Carl-Michael Eide) ? drums (live) (1997)
- Nicholas Barker ? drums (1999?2004)
- Reno Kiilerich ? drums (live) (2004)
- Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) ? drums (2005?2007)
Notes
- Many metal/guitar enthusiasts do not realize that Dimmu Borgir uses mainly standard guitar tuning. Following the release of Death Cult Armageddon, the band's guitarists were interviewed by the major guitar publication "Guitar World." In that interview, the guitarists stated that they mainly used standard 6 string tuning. The guitarists also said they used standard 7 string guitars, but rarely. They commented that the heaviness of riffs and guitar/bass parts of their songs is attributed to the fact that they overdub four guitar tracks, and use three-fingered power chords.
- Shagrath and Galder collaborated with childhood friend and Norwegian rapper Diaz in 2003. The song is titled "Mitt Terningkast," and was included on Diaz's "Velkommen Hjem Andres" album.
- Dimmu Borgir is given a small reference in the animated show Metalocalypse in the form of a fast food chain called "Dimmu Burger".
External links
Official website
