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Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli
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Dimmu Borgir (and just so we’re clear, the
correct pronunciation is “Dee-moo bore-gear.”) The band that is arguably
one of the biggest and most well-known bands in the world of Black Metal
is back once again, though they have lost the loyalty of many true to
the genre, claiming that the band has “sold out” due to their appearance
on high profile tours like Ozzfest, making music videos, and gaining
media recognition. It’s been four years since their last true studio
release, though 2005 saw a remastered version of Stormblåst, but at long
last, the band is back with their latest dark offering In Sorte Diaboli
or In Direct Contact with Satan as it is translated from Latin.
Unlike the DB releases of the past, Diaboli is actually a concept album,
but definitely not one that could be lumped into the same category as
Pink Floyd’s The Wall or even Voivod’s Dimension Hatross. The theme for
the CD is set in Medieval times during the days when Christian’s began
witch hunts and inquisitions. The main character, which is unidentified,
begins the tale as a mere assistant to these crimes but eventually turns
his back on the beliefs and begins to explore the darker side of
spirituality.
In Sorte Diaboli is quite a bit removed from Death Cult Armageddon in a
number of ways. The sampling that the band has often used in the past is
more or less gone, instead replaced by some well-written and heavy
orchestrated keyboard tracks crafted by Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta), save
for one instrumental piece that appears on the disc, “The Fallen Arise.”
The song writing and arrangements are incredible, not to mention that
the drumming of Mayhem’s own Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) are amazing.
The disc opens with “The Serpentine Offering,” the same track that the
band released a video for, and becomes absolutely relentless afterwards.
Aside from the first track, some of the more notable tracks include "The
Conspiracy Unfolds,” "The Sinister Awakening,” which I honestly is the
single best song on the entire album (and I’m quite disappointed did NOT
make it into the set list when I saw them a few weeks ago) “The
Fundamental Alienation,’ in particular the middle portion of the song
and "The Invaluable Darkness,” and with this cut, ICS Vortex’s (Simen
Hestnæs) lyrics are incredible and with the raspy and gruff style of
Shagrath (Stian Thoresen) you know there some sinister magic working
through the collective unit that is Dimmu Borgir.
If there were one thing that is disappointing about the new album, it’s
the bonus tracks which are quite literally scattered everywhere. The
North American release gets ‘The Heretic Hammer" as an added track while
Europe receives "The Ancestral Fever" and Japan gets a cover of the
Venom classic “Black Metal” I scenes there may be another release at
some point just to give everyone the full scope of In Sorte Diaboli, and
if these bonus tracks appearing on different releases weren’t enough,
there are also limited editions available. I suppose it’s all about good
marketing thouhg.
Say what you will about Dimmu Borgir, but In Sorte Diaboli is an
excellent follow-up to DCA and still retains some of the musical
approach from that album as well as their earlier releases. “Sell out”
is a phrase reserved more for bands like Metallica who really haven’t
been the same band, nor a good once, since the death of Cliff Burton
(though And Justice for All does have its moments.) No matter what,
Dimmu Borgir will never turn their backs on you nor deceive the gospel
that is black metal.
-mike-
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Lineup:
Shagrath – vocals
Silenoz – guitar
Galder – guitar
Mustis – synthesizers
I.C.S. Vortex – bass, background vocals
Hellhammer – drums
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Track Listing:
01 - The Serpentine Offering
02 - The Chosen Legacy
03 - The Conspiracy Unfolds
04 - The Sacrilegious Scorn
05 - The Fallen Arises
06 - The Heretic Hammer
07 - The Sinister Awakening
08 - The Fundamental Alienation
09 - The Invaluable Darkness
10 - The Foreshadowing Furnace
Total Playing Time:
47:24
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