DIMMU BORGIR

• Genre(s): Black Metal

• Representative Albums: "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant," "Death Cult Armageddon," "Spiritual Black Dimensions"
• Representative Songs: "Mourning Palace," "A Succubus in Rapture," "The Insight and the Catharsis"




Biography

Blending black metal's most brutal tendencies, the melancholic beauty of opera, and industrial metal's production techniques, Dimmu Borgir carved a niche in the metal world as one of the most savage and creative acts to hail from the Norwegian scene. The group first started in 1993, when members Shagrath (vocals), Erkekjetter Silenoz (guitar), and Tjodalv (guitar and drums) came together to join the emerging metal scene. Although some groups like Emperor and Mayhem had already been making noise for a while, this next generation of groups was the first to directly take their influence from their efforts. They drafted bassist Brynjard Tristan and keyboardist Stian Aarstad into the fold and began their career with a 7" single, "Inn I Evighetens Morke."

The single sold out in a few weeks, inspiring the band to record a full-length album. Although their live performances were starting to gain them a lot of attention, it wasn't until For All Tid's release in 1994 that they made their mark internationally. After some European touring and a few rave reviews from metal publications, the band went back to the studio to work on their next album. The result, 1996's Stormblast, was a step up from the primal debut album. Featuring stronger melodies and their first attempts at the classical flourishes that would enhance their later work, the group again gained more rave reviews. They were still in the shadow of many of their contemporaries, as landmark releases from Cradle of Filth and Emperor were released around the same time. They suspected their use of Norwegian may have been the cause, so Stormblast was also the last album to use their native language to deliver the lyrics. They toured quite heavily behind the album and even released a single for "Devil's Path" in between albums, but along the way, they also lost Tristan and had to replace him with Kovenant bassist Nagash.

When they did return to the studio, they recruited producer Peter Tagtren to record the monumental Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, a landmark album in both scope and songwriting. Due to new label Nuclear Blast's heavy marketing and distribution, the album sold much larger quantities than anything they had produced before, and found them thrust to the forefront of the black metal movement. The band was more than ready to take that responsibility and the following tour saw them pick up second guitarist Astennu. They also fired longtime keyboardist Aarstad because of internal difficulties and replaced him with future Sinergy frontwoman Kimberly Goss. She could only last through a part of the tour due to contract responsibilities, and she was replaced by Mustis. Tjodalv also left the band after the tour to be with his newborn child and was replaced by Aggressor for a mini-tour after taking a break from their Enthrone promotion.

For All Tid was re-released in 1998 with "Inn I Evighetens Morke" added onto the track listing, while the Godless Savage Garden EP was also released to tide over fans until the next album. The recording sessions for Spiritual Black Dimensions came next and Tjodalv came back to the fold after his family sabbatical. The album was released in 1999 to more praise from the metal media, as it revealed a heavier and more complex vision than anything they had accomplished before. Nagash quit before any touring could take place, but the band had asked bassist Simen Hestnaes from Borknagar to add operatic vocals to the recordings anyway, so he slid into the role quite easily. The band also made a split album with Old Man's Child around the same time, and the results were released as Sons of Satan Gather for Attack in the same year. Tjodalv unexpectedly left the band after their 1999 tour, but Cradle of Filth's Nick Barker was more than ready to step into his shoes and the tour resumed without a hitch.

In keeping with the spirit of their luck in the late '90s, the turn of the century saw Astennu fired from the band before the recording of their next album. Financial and time constraints put off the recording process until the fall of 2000, and in the meantime, they drafted Galder from Old Man's Child to become their new guitarist. Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia was the resulting album and the effort was by far their most complicated release to date. Featuring a symphonic orchestra on almost the entire album, the CD was an astonishing accomplishment in the world of black metal. The band toured behind it, but the tragedies of September 11, 2001, cut short their plans to tour with Napalm Death in the States and they had to stay in Europe. Still, they managed to release an EP and a DVD in their newfound spare time and Barker and Galder could do work with their various side projects and other bands before stepping back into the studio to record the mammoth black/death/thrash/gothic/industrial/symphonic metal masterpiece Death Cult Armageddon. Released in 2003, DCA relied heavily on the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. That same approach was taken on 2007's equally impressive In Sorte Diaboli.



Biography

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 musical contributions by members of Dødheimsgard and Ved Buens Ende. The initial lineup consisted of Shagrath playing drums with Tjodalv on guitar and Silenoz backing 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.

Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

After Stormblåst, Dimmu Borgir's lineup took a sharp turn. 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 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.

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.. However, a new line-up change occurred between the two albums; Nagash quit and was replaced by new bassist/clean singer ICS Vortex, as well as Tjodalv leaving (due to his family commitments, and to form the subsequent band Susperia), only to be replaced with Nicholas Barker, fresh out 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). Sections of the album were recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to enhance the classical arrangements which have always augmented the band's style. However, in multiple interviews 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.

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," 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. 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. In 2004, Dimmu Borgir performed on the mainstage at Ozzfest.
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.

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 of Mayhem, who had to leave the band in mid tour in 2007 because of a neck injury, resulting 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.

In 2008, rumours circulated that Dimmu Borgir were writing material for a next studio album. However, Shagrath dissmissed the reports in an interview with Terrorizer magazine stating "Its all bullshit man. We're not doing a new album. The thing is, we've all been playing with Dimmu Borgir for over a decade now and we just want to do other things for the moment. Right now, I'm preparing for the third Chrome Division album, Galder, Silenoz and Hellhammer are recording their own stuff and Mustis is taking a long break in Dubai with his family.
Discography

Dimmu Borgir 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)




Current line-up

• Shagrath (Stian Thoresen) – lead vocals(1995-), synthesizer (1993–), guitar (1995-1997, 2005 in Stormblast MMV), drums, backing vocals (1993-1995), bass guitar (2005 in Stormblast MMV),
• Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) – guitar (1993–), backing vocals (1995–1996, 2005 in Stormblast MMV), lead vocals (1993-1995)
• Galder (Thomas Rune Andersen) - lead guitar (2000–)
• Daray (Dariusz Brzozowski) - drums (live) (Blackest of the Black 2008, 2009)

Former members

• Brynjard Tristan (Ivar Tristan Lundsten) – bass guitar (1993–1996)
• Stian Aarstad – keyboard (1993–1997)
• Nagash (Stian Arnesen) – bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–1999)
• Tjodalv (Ian Kenneth Åkesson) – drums (1995–1999), guitar (1993–1995)
• Astennu (Jamie Stinson) – guitar (1997–2000)
• Nicholas Barker – drums (1999–2004)
• Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – drums (2005–2007, on hiatus)
• Archon - guitar (2000)
• ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) – clean vocals (1998–2009), bass guitar (1999–2009)
• Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) – keyboards, synthesizer (1998–2009)

Former members

• Brynjard Tristan (Ivar Tristan Lundsten) – bass guitar (1993–1996)
• Stian Aarstad – keyboard (1993–1997)
• Nagash (Stian Arnesen) – bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–1999)
• Tjodalv (Ian Kenneth Åkesson) – drums (1995–1999), guitar (1993–1995)
• Astennu (Jamie Stinson) – guitar (1997–2000)
• Nicholas Barker – drums (1999–2004)
• Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – drums (2005–2007, on hiatus)
• Archon - guitar (2000)
• ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) – clean vocals (1998–2009), bass guitar (1999–2009)[10]
• Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) – keyboards, synthesizer (1998–2009)

Officail web: http://www.dimmu-borgir.com/