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Dimmu Borgir
BACKGROUND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Dimmuborgir (pronounced “DIM-moo bor-GEAR”) is a large area of unusually shaped lava fields that includes various cave and rock formations east of Lake Mỷvatn on Iceland. While the word “dimmu” means “fog/dark,” and “borgir” means “castle/fortress,” and the lava fields were named after the Kirkjan (“The Church”) cave with the high, gothic-styled vaulted ceiling, the area is commonly referred to as “the Gates to Hell.” Welcome to the not-so-mythical world of Norway’s DIMMU BORGIR - thee most prominent melodic black metal act in the world. Founded in 1993 by lead singer Shagrath, guitarist Silenoz, and drummer Tjodalv, DIMMU BORGIR made their debut onto the underground metal scene via a limited 7” vinyl EP entitled Inn I Evighetens Morke (“Into The Eternity Of Darkness”) in 1994. Inspired by early incarnations of black metal from the 1980s and inspired by the works of classical composers such as Wagner and Dvorak, the band’s music was resplendent in its raw & melodic vocals, aggressive guitar work, destructive drums, and haunting keyboard melodies. Less than a year later, the band (now a 5-piece) recorded their now-classic full-length debut, For All Tid, to wild acclaim. While DIMMU BORGIR’s reputation gained momentum throughout Scandinavia, the band focused their energies on recording what was to become one of the most essential albums in black metal history, Stormblåst, which – although sung completely in Norwegian - catapulted them out of Europe and into international (albeit still underground) waters. Though displaying a marked escalation in their time signatures, DIMMU BORGIR made significant headway in defining their classically influenced sound that would become an intrinsic blueprint. Following Stormblåst, DIMMU BORGIR decided to record in English to reach a broader audience, and the result was 1997’s commanding masterpiece, Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. Produced by the one-and-only living legend Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) at Abyss Studios (Immortal, Destruction, Children Of Bodom), the album was released by Nuclear Blast and marked the band’s significant international breakthrough with over 150,000 copies sold and chart entries all over the world. Included in this breakthrough year were performances at some of the most esteemed European music festivals such as Germany’s Dynamo and Wacken Open Air. After their world tour for Enthroned Darkness Triumphant, DIMMU BORGIR recorded the Godless Savage Garden mini-CD to hold fans over as they curiously waited to see what direction the next full-length, Spiritual Black Dimensions, would take. Once again recorded at Abyss Studios with Peter Tägtgren, the album stormed into music stores around the world in 1999 and single-handedly transformed the market for black metal. Those who ever doubted DIMMU BORGIR’s allegiance to extreme music were forced to face reality when the album proved to be their most complex and severe offering. DIMMU suffered a setback when long-time drummer Tjodalv resigned from the band in the early stages of their 1999 tour. His replacement was none other than former Cradle Of Filth skinsman Nick Barker, whose presence among vocalist Shagrath, guitarists Silenoz & Galder, bassist & clean vocalist I.C.S. Vortex, and keyboard player Mustis complemented the band’s already impressive lineage. The sextet entered Sweden’s Fredman Studio in the fall of 2000 with the equally acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström (At The Gates, Opeth, In Flames) to record Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, and did not fail to create an uncompromising 11 tracks of audible malevolence and exceptional atmospherics. Released in 2001, Puritanical expanded DIMMU’s audience even more, and 2003’s self-produced Death Cult Armageddon proved to be no different. Debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and entering at #7 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, Death Cult Armageddon went on to sell over 100,000 records in North America alone.

Songs

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Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
Dimmu Borgir
2
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Mourning Palace
Dimmu Borgir
3
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Gateways
Dimmu Borgir
4
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Mourning Palace (Live in Wacken)
Dimmu Borgir
5
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The Serpentine Offering (Single Edit)
Dimmu Borgir

Albums

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Inspiratio Profanus

2023
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Abrahadabra

2010
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Spiritual Black Dimensions

1999
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Dust of Cold Memories

2022
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In Sorte Diaboli

2007
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For all tid

1997
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Northern Forces Over Wacken

2022
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Death Cult Armageddon

2003
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Eonian

2018
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Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

2001

Singles & EPs

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The Serpentine Offering

Single • 2007
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Alive in Torment (Live)

EP • 2001

Videos

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Progenies of the Great Apocalypse

Dimmu Borgir • 8.2M views
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DIMMU BORGIR - Gateways (LIVE - FORCES OF THE NORTHERN NIGHT)

Dimmu Borgir • 8.1M views
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DIMMU BORGIR - The Serpentine Offering

Dimmu Borgir • 260K views
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Dimmu Borgir (orchestral version)

Dimmu Borgir • 7.6M views

Featured on

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Blasphemous In Black

Playlist • YouTube Music

Artist-made playlists

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DIMMU BORGIR - ABRAHADABRA (OFFICIAL PLAYLIST)

Playlist • Dimmu Borgir • 12K views

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