Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian melodic black metal band whose music has been in the charts in several Scandinavian countries and Germany. "Dimmu Borgir" means "Dark Castle" or "Dark Citadel" in Icelandic.
Genre: Black metal, symphonic metal
Country: Norway
Status: Active
Time: 1993-
Dimmu Borgir was originally founded in 1993 by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv. The band immediately released an EP entitled Inn I Evighetens Mørke (1994) – translated to English the title means "Into The Darkness Of Eternity". This short EP sold out within weeks, and the band followed up with the full length album For All Tid (1994) – the title translates to "For All Time". This album featured musical contributions by members of Dødheimsgård and Ved Buens Ende. In 1996, the band released their monumental album Stormblåst (translates to "Storm Blown"). Stormblåst received high praise from many melodic black metal fans, and is often regarded 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 career took a sharp turn. Keyboardist Stian Aarstad left the band due to his obligation to serve in the Norwegian army, thus he was not able to participate in the recording of Devil's Path (1996). When he returned for the recording of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997), he had trouble attending rehearsals and tourdates, and he was fired from the band. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant was a huge success for the band, and it was their first release signed to the famous German record label Nuclear Blast.
Dimmu Borgir's following full-length albums – Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) – both met critical acclaim. Some fans accused the band of selling out due to the mass audiences which the albums reached. The band has stated that they are not "commercially-oriented", and instead they simply wish to spread their message of misanthropy and evil to more people. In 2003, Dimmu Borgir used their major record label financial leverage to create a monumental 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. Death Cult Armageddon has often been cited by critics and new listeners as the band's strongest, most diverse album. Many fans disagree, however, maintaining a preference for the band's older, less bombastic style.
Recently, Dimmu Borgir toured as part of Ozzfest. Currently, the band is expecting to re-record Stormblåst, as well as begin work on a new album. This new album is expected to be available in early or mid-2006. Hellhammer (of Mayhem fame) has agreed to be the drummer for this album.
Inn I Evighetens Mørke EP - (1994)
1. Inn I Evighetens Morke (Part. I) 4:25
2. Inn I Evighetens Morke (Part. II) 1:58.
3. Raabjorn Speiler Draugheims Skodde 4:51
For All Tid - (1994) (Reis. 1997)
1. Det Nye Riket 4:52
2. Under Korpens Vinger 5:47
3. Over Bieknede Blåner Till Dommedag 3:56
4. Stien 1:55
5. Glittertind 5:01
6. För All Tid 5:32
7. Hunnerkongens Sorgsvarte Ferd Over Steppene 3:14
8. Raabjorn Speiler Draugheims Skodde 4:51
9. Den Gjemte Sannhets Herskar 6:03
Stormblåst - (1996)
1. Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen 6:07
2. Broderskapets Ring 5:10
3. Når Sjelen Hentes Til Helvete 4:33
4. Sorgens Kammer 6:21
5. Da Den Kristine Satte Livet Til 3:08
6. Stormblåst 6:16
7. Antikrist 3:43
8. Dødsferd 5:30
9. Vinder Fra En Ensom Grav 4:28
10. Guds Fortapelse - Apenbaring Av Dommedag 4:24
Devil's Path EP - (1996)
1. Master Of Disharmony 6:05
2. Devil's Path 5:30
3. Nocturnal Fear (originally by Celtic Frost)3:23
4. Nocturnal Fear (celtically possessed) 3:28.
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant - (1997) (Reis. 2002)
1. Mourning Palace 5:13
2. Spellbound (By The Devil) 4:08
3. In Death's Embrace 5:43
4. Relinquishment Of Spirit And Flesh 5:33
5. The Night Masquerade 4:25
6. Tormentor Of Christian Souls 5:39
7. Entrance 4:48
8. Master Of Disharmony 4:15
9. Prudence's Fall 5:57
10. A Succubus In Rapture 6:00
11. Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde 5:02 (Unlabeled track)
Spiritual Black Dimensions - (1999)
1. Reptile 5:17
2. Behind The Curtains Of Night- Phantasmagoria 3:18
3. Dreamside Dominions 5.13
4. United In Unhallowed Grace 4:21
5. The Promised Future Aeons 6:51
6. The Blazing Monoliths Of Defiance 4:37
7. The Insight & The Catharsis 7:16
8. Grotesquery Conceiled 5:10
9. Arcane Life Force Mysteria 7:03
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia - (2001)
1.Fear And Wonder (Intro)
2.Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny
3.Kings Of The Carnival Creation
4.Hybrid Stigmata-The Apostasy
5.Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature
6.Puritania
7.IndoctriNation
8.The Maelstrom Mephisto
9.Absolute Sole Right
10.Sympozium
11.Perfection Or Vanity
12.Devil's Path, re-recording feat. Andy La Roque.
13.Burn In Hell, cover of the Twisted Sisters song.
Death Cult Armageddon - (2003)
1.Allegiance
2.Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
3.Lepers Among Us
4.Vredesbyrd
5.For The World To Dictate Our Death
6.Blood Hunger Doctrine
7.Allehelgens Død I Helveds Rike
8.Cataclysm Children
9.Eradication Instincts Defined
10.Unorthodox Manifesto
11.Heavenly Perverse
Bonustrack Digi:
12.Satan My Master (Bathory Cover)
Godless Savage Garden Compilation - (1998)
Alive In Torment Live - (2001)
World Misanthropy DVD/VHS - (2002)
World Misanthropy Live - (2002)
Shagrath (Stian Thoresen) - Vocals - (1993-)
Galder (Thomas Rune Andersen) - Guitar - (2001-)
Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) - Guitar - (1993-)
ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) - Bass, Clean Vocals - (2000-)
Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) - Keyboard - (1998-)
Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) - Drums- (2005-)
Astennu - Guitar - (1997-1999)
Brynjard Tristan - Bass - (1994-1996)
Nagash - Bass - (1996-1999)
Tjodalv - Drums - (1993-1999)
Nicholas Barker - Drums - (1999-2004)
Reno Kiilerich - Drums - (2004-2004)
Stian Aarstad - Keyboard - (1993-1997)
Kimberly Goss - Keyboard - (1997-1998)
Some people discovered that Sorgens Kammer of the Stormblåst album seriously ressembles the intro tune from an Amiga game called Agony, while Dimmu Borgir did not give them any credit and is sampled .
Many accuse Dimmu Borgir of being commercially-oriented and of being "sell-outs". However, the band's lyrical themes prevent them from being truly "mainstream" and Dimmu Borgir remains relatively "underground" with a dedicated fanbase.
Dimmu Borgir Official Homepage
Dimmu Borgir Lyrics
The Dimmuborgir is an actual location east of Mývatn in Iceland. The area is marked by remnants of volcanic activity that are perhaps reminiscent of an ancient collapsed citadel, with columns spewing plumes of sulfuric smoke. In Icelandic folklore the Dimmuborgir is said to connect earth with the infernal regions.
Dimmuborgir In Iceland
Statistics
Biography
Dimmu Borgir was originally founded in 1993 by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv. The band immediately released an EP entitled Inn I Evighetens Mørke (1994) – translated to English the title means "Into The Darkness Of Eternity". This short EP sold out within weeks, and the band followed up with the full length album For All Tid (1994) – the title translates to "For All Time". This album featured musical contributions by members of Dødheimsgård and Ved Buens Ende. In 1996, the band released their monumental album Stormblåst (translates to "Storm Blown"). Stormblåst received high praise from many melodic black metal fans, and is often regarded 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 career took a sharp turn. Keyboardist Stian Aarstad left the band due to his obligation to serve in the Norwegian army, thus he was not able to participate in the recording of Devil's Path (1996). When he returned for the recording of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997), he had trouble attending rehearsals and tourdates, and he was fired from the band. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant was a huge success for the band, and it was their first release signed to the famous German record label Nuclear Blast.
Dimmu Borgir's following full-length albums – Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) – both met critical acclaim. Some fans accused the band of selling out due to the mass audiences which the albums reached. The band has stated that they are not "commercially-oriented", and instead they simply wish to spread their message of misanthropy and evil to more people. In 2003, Dimmu Borgir used their major record label financial leverage to create a monumental 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. Death Cult Armageddon has often been cited by critics and new listeners as the band's strongest, most diverse album. Many fans disagree, however, maintaining a preference for the band's older, less bombastic style.
Recently, Dimmu Borgir toured as part of Ozzfest. Currently, the band is expecting to re-record Stormblåst, as well as begin work on a new album. This new album is expected to be available in early or mid-2006. Hellhammer (of Mayhem fame) has agreed to be the drummer for this album.
Discography
Studio Releases
Live and other releases
Band members
Current members
Former members
Criticism
External links
See also
The Dimmuborgir is an actual location east of Mývatn in Iceland. The area is marked by remnants of volcanic activity that are perhaps reminiscent of an ancient collapsed citadel, with columns spewing plumes of sulfuric smoke. In Icelandic folklore the Dimmuborgir is said to connect earth with the infernal regions.