Dimmu Borgir (pronounced /ˌdɪmuː ˈbɔrɡɪr/ in English) is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir. The band has been through numerous line-up changes over the years; guitarist Silenoz and vocalist Shagrath are the only founding members remaining.
[edit] Biography
[edit] For all tid and Stormblåst
Dimmu Borgir started as a Satanic melodic black metal band in 1993. Formed by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv, the band released an EP in 1994 entitled Inn i evighetens mørke ("Into the Darkness of Eternity" in English). This short EP sold out within weeks, and the band followed up with the 1994 full length album For all tid ('For all Time' in English) This album featured vocal contributions by Vicotnik of Ved Buens Ende and Dødheimsgard and Aldrahn of Dødheimsgard and Zyklon-B. The initial lineup consisted of Shagrath playing drums with Tjodalv on guitar and Silenoz contributing backing vocals. This line-up 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[citation needed]. It is also the last album which features all lyrics written and sung in Norwegian.
[edit] Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
After Stormblåst, Keyboardist 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 departure of 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[citation needed]. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant was a huge success for the band, and was their first release signed to Nuclear Blast, a German record label. The album was recorded in the Abyss Studios, owned by Hypocrisy's frontman Peter Tägtgren[1].
[edit] Spiritual Black Dimensions and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
After the tour for Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, the band recruited new members Mustis on keyboards and Astennu on lead guitar. Dimmu Borgir's following full-length albums Spiritual Black Dimensions in 1999 and 2001's Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, both met critical acclaim.[citation needed]. However, another line-up change occurred between the two albums; Nagash quit and was replaced by new bassist/singer ICS Vortex, and Tjodalv left (due to his family commitments, and to form the subsequent band Susperia[citation needed]), only to be replaced with Nicholas Barker, of Cradle of Filth. Astennu was fired from his guitar duties as well due to incompatibility (reportedly, he was speaking ill of the band behind their backs and wanted them to be a Morbid Angel cover band).[citation needed]
[edit] Death Cult Armageddon
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,"[citation needed] and instead, they 'simply wish to spread their message to more people'[citation needed]. In 2003, Dimmu Borgir used their major record label financial leverage[citation needed]to record an album titled Death Cult Armageddon. On this album the band decided to not use a live orchestra, instead leaving the duty mostly to the band's keyboardist, Mustis, in the studio[citation needed]. In 2004, Dimmu Borgir performed on the mainstage at Ozzfest. Sections of the album were recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to enhance the classical arrangements which have always augmented the band's style[citation needed]. In multiple interviews[citation needed]Shagrath mentions the many troubles and shortcomings that came along with using the orchestra from Prague. Two full weeks of studio work were spent cleaning up the mistakes[citation needed].
In 2005, the band did a complete re-recording of the Stormblåst album, featuring Hellhammer of Mayhem fame as the session drummer. The album also featured a DVD with a live performance from the 2004 Ozzfest tour.
[edit] In Sorte Diaboli
Dimmu Borgir's newest album, In Sorte Diaboli, was released April 24, 2007. A special edition version was released in a boxed case with a DVD, backward-printed lyrics, and a mirror. The album artwork was released on February 14, 2007 on a promotional webpage for the album. This album features the drumming of "Hellhammer" Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem. Blomberg left the band in mid tour in 2007 because of a neck injury that resulted in limited movement of his right arm. With the release of this album, Dimmu Borgir became the first black metal band with a number one album in their native country.[2]
[edit] Departure of ICS Vortex and Mustis
 | This section requires expansion. |
In 2009, members ICS Vortex and Mustis independently announced their departure from Dimmu Borgir. Mustis released a statement claiming his disfavor with the band, stating that he was not properly credited for his writing contributions to the band's music, mentioning possibly taking legal action.[3]
Dimmu Borgir soon after confirmed the pair's dismissal from the band, releasing a statement explaining why the two were fired.[4] Shagrath, Silenoz, and Galder wrote, "Funny then, how the new album is halfway finished written already by the rest of us without any of these guys' input, still having all those elements we're known for."[4]
[edit] Ninth studio album
Dimmu Borgir is scheduled to release their ninth studio album in 2010.[5] Silenoz explained that the growing periods of time between albums was because the band had stopped writing music while touring, which affected the quality of the music. He said the new album will have an "eerie and haunting feel to it," further describing the material as "epic," "primal," atmospheric and ambient.[6]
A promotional image released with the statement showed Shagrath returning to the keyboards.
[edit] Discography
- For all tid (1994)
- Stormblåst (1996)
- Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
- Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999)
- Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
- Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
- Stormblåst MMV (2005)
- In Sorte Diaboli (2007)
[edit] Band members
|
|
[edit] By year
| Role | Year | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1995 | 1995–1996 | 1996–1997 | 1997–1998 | 1999–2000 | 2000–2004 | 2004–2005 | 2005–2007 | 2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | Current | ||
| Vocals | Silenoz | Shagrath | ||||||||||
| Rhythm guitar | Silenoz | |||||||||||
| Lead guitar | Tjodalv | Shagrath | Astennu | Galder | ||||||||
| Clean vocals | — | ICS Vortex | — | |||||||||
| Bass | Brynjard Tristan | Nagash | ICS Vortex | — | ||||||||
| Drums | Shagrath | Tjodalv | Nicholas Barker | Tony Laureano | Hellhammer | Tony Laureano | Daray | — | ||||
| Keyboard | Stian Aarstad | Shagrath | Kimberly Goss | Mustis | Shagrath | |||||||
[edit] By album
| Role | Album (LPs) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all tid | Stormblåst | Enthrone Darkness Triumphant | Spiritual Black Dimensions | Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia | Death Cult Armageddon | Stormblåst MMV | In Sorte Diaboli | |
| Vocals | Silenoz/Shagrath | Shagrath | ||||||
| Rhythm guitar | Silenoz | Shagrath | Silenoz | |||||
| Lead guitar | Tjodalv | Shagrath | Astennu | Galder | Silenoz | Galder | ||
| Clean vocals | — | ICS Vortex | — | ICS Vortex | ||||
| Bass | Brynjard Tristan | Nagash | ICS Vortex | Shagrath/Silenoz | ICS Vortex | |||
| Drums | Shagrath | Tjodalv | Nicholas Barker | Hellhammer | ||||
| Keyboard | Stian Aarstad | Mustis | ||||||
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.dimmu-borgir.com/music.php
- ^ "Dimmu Borgir on nuclearblast.de". http://www.nuclearblast.de/index.php?Action=showDynamicPage&artistname=DIMMU+BORGIR&id=11&ident=artistsfull#DIMMU%20BORGIR.
- ^ a b c "Dimmu Borgir Splits With Keyboardist Mustis, Bassist/Vocalist Vortex". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 30 August 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126138. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Dimmu Borgir: 'We Have Put Up With Unprofessionalism And Bad Live Performances For Years'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 2 September 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126340. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Dimmu Borgir Frontman Launches 'The Wrath Of Shag'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 22 January 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=133903. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Dimmu Borgir Working On 'Grand, Huge, Epic And Primal' New Album". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 31 January 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134349. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ a b Lineup 2008
- ^ Lineup 2009
[edit] External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dimmu Borgir |
| [hide] | |
|---|---|
| Shagrath · Silenoz · Galder Hellhammer · Stian Aarstad · Tjodalv · Tristan · Nagash · Astennu · Nicholas Barker · Mustis · ICS Vortex | |
| Studio albums | For all tid (1994) · Stormblåst (1996) · Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997) · Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) · Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) · Death Cult Armageddon (2003) · Stormblåst MMV (2005) · In Sorte Diaboli (2007) · New Album (2010) |
| Compilations | Godless Savage Garden (1998) |
| Extended plays | Inn i evighetens mørke (1994) · Devil's Path (1996) · Sons of Satan Gather for Attack (1999) · True Kings of Norway (2000) · Alive in Torment (2001) · World Misanthropy (2002) |
| Singles | "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" (2003) · "Vredesbyrd" (2004) · "The Serpentine Offering" (2007) · "The Sacrilegious Scorn" (2007) |
| Videography | |
| Related articles | |