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Dimmu Borgir (pronounced "Di-moo bore-gear") is a black metal band from Norway. "Dimmu Borgir" means "Dark Castles" or "Dark Fortresses" in Icelandic. The name itself is derived from volcanic formations found on Iceland: "The Dimmuborgir."
History
Dimmu Borgir was originally founded as a black metal band in 1993 by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv. The band 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). This album featured musical contributions by members of Dødheimsgard and Ved Buens Ende. Interestingly enough, Shagrath played drums with Tjodalv on guitar and Erkekjetter (translating "arch heretic") Silenoz covering vocals. This lineup 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.
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). That period was also marked by the leave of their bassist Brynjard Tristan and the arrival of Nagash. Stian Aarstad returned for the recording of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997). On the tour to support the album he had trouble attending rehearsals and tour dates, 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. It was recorded in the Abyss Studios, owned by Hypocrisy's mainman Peter Tägtgren.
After the tour for Enthrone Darkness Triumphant the band recruited new members Mustis on keyboards and Astennu on second guitar so that Shagrath could concentrate on vocals.
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.
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 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.
In 2005, the band did a complete re-recording of the Stormblåst album, featuring Hellhammer of Mayhem fame as the session drummer.
Silenoz has revealed on the Dimmu Borgir website that their new album, In Sorte Diaboli, is mixed and ready for mastering. According to a recent myspace bulletin posted by the official Dimmu Borgir myspace crew, the album will be released April 24, 2007. The album artwork was recently released on February 14, 2007 on a promotional webpage for the album.
Dimmu Borgir will be playing the 2007 Download Festival on June 8.
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)
EPs
* Inn I Evighetens Mørke - (1994)
* Devil's Path - (1996)
* Godless Savage Garden - (1998)
* Sons of Satan Gather for Attack (Split EP with Old Man's Child) - (1999)
* Alive in Torment - (2001)
* World Misanthropy - (2002)
* Vredesbyrd - (2004)
Singles
* "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" - (2003)
* "Vredesbyrd" - (2003)
* "The Serpentine Offering" - (2007)
Bootlegs
* Spiritual Darkness - Alive in Europe - (2000)
* Live at Lowlands 2408 - (2002)
* Live at Paradiso 02.10.2003 - (2003)
DVD's
* Live & Plugged Vol. 2 (Live Split with Dissection) - (1997)
* World Misanthropy - (2002)
* Ozzfest 2004 Live in San Antonio (Bonus disc with U.S. edition of Stormblåst MMV)
Music Videos
* "Mourning Palace" - (1997)
* "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" - (2003)
* "Sorgens Kammer – Del II" - (2005)
* "The Serpentine Offering" - (2007)
Band Members
Current Members
* Shagrath (Stian Thoresen) – Vocals (1993–)
* Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) – Guitar (1993–)
* Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) – Keyboard (1998–)
* ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) – Bass Guitar, Clean Vocals (1999–)
* Galder (Thomas Rune Andersen) – Lead Guitar (2000–)
* Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – Session Drums (2005-)
Former Members
* Stian Aarstad – Keyboard (1993–1997)
* Tjodalv (Kenneth Åkesson) – Drums (1993–1999)
* Brynjard Tristan – Bass (1994–1996)
* Nagash (Stian Arnesen) – Bass (1996–1999)
* Kimberly Goss - Keyboard (1997-1998)
* Astennu (Jamie Stinson) – Guitar (1997–1999)
* Aggressor (Carl-Michael Eide) – Drums (Live) (1997)
* Nicholas Barker – Drums (1999–2004)
* Reno Kiilerich – Drums (Live) (2004)
* Tony Laureano – Drums (Live) (2004–2005)
* Robbb Halford- Drums (live) (1989-1995}
Trivia
* "Sorgens Kammer" ("The Chamber of Sorrow" in English) is a cover of a song taken from an Amiga game called Agony. Aarstad used the melody, but did not tell anyone about it. The band always thought it was their own song until the original composer contacted them. Because of this, they removed the song from the 2005 version of Stormblåst. It was replaced by a previously unreleased track called "Sorgens Kammer - Del II"
* The guitar solo from the song "Metal Heart," originally by Accept is a rhapsody of the main theme of Beethoven's Für Elise
* Many metal/guitar enthusiasts do not realize the fact that Dimmu Borgir uses mainly standard guitar tuning. Following the release of Death Cult Armageddon, the band's guitarists were interviewed by the major guitar publication "Guitar World." In that interview, the guitarists stated that they mainly used standard 6 string tuning (otherwise known as the "E tuning"). The guitarists also said they used standard 7 string guitars, but rarely. They commented that the heaviness of riffs and guitar/bass parts of their songs is attributed to the fact that they overdub four guitar tracks, and use three-fingered power chords.
* Shagrath and Galder of Dimmu Borgir also collaborated with childhood friend and Norwegian rapper Diaz in 2003. The song is titled "Mitt Terningkast," and was included on Diaz's "Velkommen Hjem Andres" album.
* Shagrath appears as Mephisto for both the album song and the video of "March of Mephisto" off the album The Black Halo by power metal band Kamelot. He also did guest vocals for the song "Memento Mori" for the same album.
* Dimmu Borgir is given a small reference in the animated show Metalocalypse, in the form of a fast food chain called "Dimmu Burger"
* "Progenies of the Great Apocolypse" is featured in the Hellboy 2004 movie trailer.
* Ring of Honor wrestling star Delirious uses their song "Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy" as his entrance music.
* Their song "Puritania" was used as deathmatch wrestling icon Brandon Prophet's entrance music from its release until June of 2006 exclusively, before he started alternating it with Type O Negative's "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend."
* Their song "Puritania" is currently being used as the Entrance music of 1PW wrestling faction The Damned Nation.
* Their song "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" is used in the TV show Battle for Ozzfest, in which they were once visible as the band for whom a radio arrangement should be made.
