Artist: Dimmu Borgir Title: “In Sorte Diaboli” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 4/24/2007 Genre: Symphonic Black Metal Rating: 4/5
If you translate the title from its Latin origins, “In Sorte Diaboli” leaves you with the meaning “a faithful connectivity with Satan”, and how appropriate this is as the title of the newest album by Norway’s Dimmu Borgir. This would be the first new recordings by the band in a couple of years as their last effort was a redo of the classic “Stormblast”. The new album also marks the band adventuring for the first time into the concept album and what a concept it is. “In Sorte Diaboli” tells the story of an apprentice Priest living in the times of medieval Europe and the main premise of the tale is that this apprentice for whatever reasons begins to find himself questioning his beliefs and becoming dissatisfied with the doctrines of Christianity. The feelings of doubt and the circumstance around them begins his journey into a darker and more sinister realm of belief. It’s the kind of storyline that really falls right in place with the brand of Metal that Dimmu Borgir excels at delivering in their unique fashion. Fans of the band will find this to be an epic release that is loaded with the expected dramatics and thundering power as one often finds in their music and it all begins right away with “The Serpentine Offering”. This opener sets up the apprentice’s descent into the Dark Side and seems to be sung by the Adversary himself. In the musical sense this as sound a release as anything we loved most about “Death Cult Armageddon” and the redone “Stormblast”. Continue reading “In Sorte Diaboli” by Dimmu Borgir→
Artist: Chrome Division Title: “Doomsday Rock ‘N’ Roll” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 7/21/2006 Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 3.5/5
When you first hear that Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir had a side project band you would immediately think that it would be along the lines of his existing work. It wouldn’t be hard to think this especially when you consider that Galder has his side project Old Man’s Child which is killer Progressive Death Metal. However, in this group Shagrath grabs the guitar and along with his band mates deliver a down and dirty dose of Heavy Rock & Roll. The CD opens with a quick overture that breaks into the groups first single and video “Serial Killer”. It’s a rocking track that even feature’s Shagrath’s band mate Silenoz on some guitar. Continuing along with “Hate” and the anthemic “Chrome Division” there immediately becomes a strong association with the one and only Motorhead. It’s an amazing thing to find happen since so many bands from their region all end up delivering the Black or the Death with some others focusing on Melodic Power. Chrome Division however is more about riding motorcycles, drinking lots of beer and raising a whole lot of Hell. Continue reading “Doomsday Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Chrome Division→
As far as concerts go, it would seem that if you were a heavy metal music fan and chose to miss these years Ozzfest for any reason that you were doing yourself a great injustice. This years Ozzfest would prove to be the one with perhaps the best lineup of all time for when it was at the planning stages it seemed as though each act was getting better and better upon the announcement. The Main Stage bands listed were Black Label Society, Superjoint Ritual, Dimmu Borgir, Slayer, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. The second stage bands were also very good this time around, mixing some new and some staple acts. Among this list were Slipknot, Hatebreed, Lamb of God and Lacuna Coil and Otep. Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne’s “Ozzfest” @ Jones Beach Theater (7/14/2004)→
Artist: Dimmu Borgir Venue: L’Amour’s (Brooklyn NY) Date: 12-12-2003 Opener: Nevermore, Children Of Bodom, Hypocrisy Label: Nuclear Blast Records
The Dark Gods Of Norwegian Black Metal brought their brand of mayhem to the capacity crowd of L’Amour’s in Brooklyn New York this past week. Believe me this was a night to be reckoned with, I had only been exposed to the music of Dimmu Borgir very recently so my knowledge of the set list would be quite limited for this performance. One of the great things about seeing a band like Dimmu Borgir at L’Amour is the chance to be in very close proximity to the group. The venue itself has undergone some interior remodelling and there are areas where one can be a single foot away (and I dont mean this from the front alone). Continue reading Dimmu Borgir @ L’Amour Brooklyn (12/12/2003)→
Artist: Dimmu Borgir Title: “Death Cult Armageddon” Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 9/9/2003 Genre: Symphonic Black Metal Rating: 8/10
It was at the suggestion of some Friends who tread the path of much darker and heavier metal than I normally listen to that I decided to find some music by Dimmu Borgir. Dimmu, who hail from the Nordic Lands are currently considered the Kings Of Black Metal and for good reason. I will admit to you all that the Black Metal genre has escaped my notice until I played this CD. I instantly became a fan of this group, and hoped I would get to see them perform in a live situation soon. It was late December last year that I was able to sate this urge at a L’Amour appearance and they were brutal when experienced in person. The band is fronted by Shagrath (vocals), and rounded out by Silenoz (guitars), Galder (also known for his work with Old Man’s Child on lead guitar), Mustis (keyboards), Vortex (bass guitar and clean vocals) & Nick Barker (drums). Continue reading “Death Cult Armageddon” by Dimmu Borgir→
