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Dimmu Borgir
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Line Up:
Shagrath: Vocals & Synth
Silenoz: Guitars
Galder: Lead Guitars
Vortex: Bass Guitar & Clean Vocals
Nicholas: Drums & Percussion
Mustis: Synthetics & Samples
The band members (Shagrath, Erkekjetter Silenoz, Brynjard Tristan and Tjodalv) had been playing for about three years when they decided to form a band. It was called Dimmu Borgir, which is Icelandic for something like Dark Castle. In 1993, they released their first 7" EP, In I Evighetens Mørke (Into Eternal Of Darkness) on Necromantic Gallery Productions.
The music is described as melodic black metal, but people would rather call it dark metal, because of its sad and misanthropic style.
Soon after the EP's release, the German underground label No Colours signed Dimmu Borgir. At this point, a new important band member was added, Stian Aarstad. His fantastic keyboard plays gives an extra dimension to Dimmu Borgir's music.
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They recorded their first full length album in 1994, which was called For All Tid. It turned out to be a brillant album and the Dimmu Borgir's members signed with Cacophonous Records for one album. After the recording of Stormblåst, which was even better than For All Tid, the members realized that Cacophonous' promotion was shit. Before Dimmu Borgir signed with Nuclear Blast for four albums, they recorded their first mini-CD Devil's Path, which was released on Hot Records (Shagrath used to work there). Stian Aarstad didn't appear on this album, because he was busy with his military service. Brynjard Tristan also didn't handled the bassguitar anymore. He was replaced by Covenant vocalist Nagash (who is also member of Troll and Carpe Tenebrum). The reason was that B. Tristan wasn't really motivated anymore and, according to Shagrath, wasn't near the ideals the Dimmu Borgir-members had in mind.
A second guitarist was added too, Jens-Peter, with Shagrath now only on the vocals (E. Silenoz is the other guitarist), but just after the recording of the third full-length album he left the band.
The third album, the first one with Nuclear Blast, meant the great breakthrough for Dimmu Borgir. After this album Dimmu Borgir was mentioned with the black metal top-bands as Cradle Of Filth, Emperor, etc.
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The album, Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, was released on the 30th of May 1997, and one week later it entered the German charts at position 75. This was the first entry ever of a black metal band. In Finland they were in the charts for 20 weeks!
As a result of this great succes, Dimmu Borgir played at all the big summer festivals in 1997, including Dynamo Open Air (60000 people), With Full Force Festival (20000 people) and Wacken Open Air (12000 people). After the release of the album, there were several line-up changes. Stian Aarstad (now at Enthral) was fired from the band and was replaced by female keyboard player Kimberley Goss (Ancient), but she didn't stay long either. She was replaced by Mustis right before the release of their fourth album. Jens-Peter was also kicked out of the band and replaced by Astennu from Australia, but now living in Norway. They took him so that they would have more possiblities for stage-acting and a better show on stage. Drummer Tjodalv's wife had a baby and he decided to spend more time with his family and Aggressor was hired as a session-drummer. According to Nagash, he is even better than Tjodalv.
The fourth album is called Godless Savage Garden. It was planned as a mini-CD, but because of several delays, the band decided to add some live songs to make the album full-length. Godless Savage Garden contains two new songs, two re-releases of old songs from the first album, a cover from Accept (Metal Heart) and three live songs. After a intensive tour around Europe, Dimmu Borgir started to record their fifth album, Spiritual Black Dimensions. They played a new song at the summer festivals, Behind The Curtain Of Night, which shows already that Spiritual Black Dimensions will be one of the strongest albums of 1999. The album is planned for 1st of February 1999.
After the recordings of Spiritual Black Dimensions, Nagash left the band to concentrate on his work at Covenant. It is not yet known who will play the bassguitar at Dimmu Borgir now, but Borknagar's new vocalist will play the session bass on their tour.
In 2001 the new line up came once again. This time with Galder on Lead Guitars, Vortex on Bass, and Nick Barker on Drums. Also in 2001 Dimmu Unleashed their latest masterpiece "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia."
- May 5, 2001
Blackwinged
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"For All Tid"
1994 |
"Stormblast"
1996 |
"Enthrone Darkness Triumphant"
1997 |
"Godless Savage Garden"
1998 |
"Spiritual Black Dimensions"
1999 |
"Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia"
2001
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