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Dimmu Borgir : The Grand Serpent Rising Album Review


Photo Courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Words by Anselm Anderson


Following an eight-year break, the Norwegian metal band is Dimmu Borgir back with their new album, "Grand Serpent Rising." This album is an important milestone for the band, marking their return after more than thirty years in the music scene.

The title symbolizes the Year of the Snake, marking the album's completion last February. The serpent represents change and growth, showing the band evolving with confidence. While the band is known for taking time on albums, eight years is taking the biscuit. Since their last release, 2018's Eonian they have lost guitarist Galder in 2024 to his previous band. And since then, They have concentrated on "Grand Serpent Rising," an hour of intense Black Metal with orchestral elements. Co-founders "Silenoz" and "Shagrath" collaborated to create a masterpiece, featuring dynamic choir and string arrangements alongside their signature snarls.

A Return to their roots

Produced by longtime collaborator, Fredrik Nordström, The album harkens back to the 90's black metal scene with long, ominous passages and spine tingling riffs. The album is diverse with a mixture of different influences as the band seem intent on returning to their roots.

The album starts with the dark intro "Tridentium" and becomes more intense with the heavy track "Ascent." The band introduces gothic sounds with the acoustic pieces "As Seen in the Unseen" and "Repository of Divine Transmutation." It then has an eerie feel, like the soundtrack of a HP Lovecraft story, especially in the tracks "Phantom of the Nemesis."

The band's dynamics mix between a melancholic symphonies and vocals with a sinister edge. The drums are pulsating, the riffs are maniacal and the vocalists sound like they are in constant sorrow , all set against the backdrop of cascading riffs and devastating keys that evoke a sense of coming of age.

Dimmu Borgir returns with a new sense of purpose on this gothic opus, which feels like a tribute to themsleves.

Social Media Links

https://www.dimmu-borgir.com/




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