History Music / DimmuBorgir

Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that, along with bands like Keep of Kalessin and Music/CradleOfFilth, represents the more commercial and accessible end of black (or quasi-black) metal. Instantly recognizable for their clean, keyboard-laden sound, and their [[ReligionRantSong staunchly anti-Christian lyrics]], Dimmu Borgir have carved out a unique niche for themselves both inside and outside of the BlackMetal world, particularly in recent times. Still, they are quite divisive in the anti-commercial black metal scene; many black metal fans / brainless meanie elitists / heroes ov the underworld / whatever lament their steady move towards a more commercial, less raw sound.

Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that, along with bands like Keep of Kalessin and Music/CradleOfFilth, represents the more commercial and accessible end of black (or proto-black) metal. Instantly recognizable for their clean, keyboard-laden sound, and their [[ReligionRantSong staunchly anti-Christian lyrics]], Dimmu Borgir have carved out a unique niche for themselves both inside and outside of the BlackMetal world, particularly in recent times. Still, they are quite divisive in the anti-commercial black metal scene; many black metal fans / brainless meanie elitists / heroes ov the underworld / whatever lament their steady move towards a more commercial, less raw sound.

->''When I have seen your church go up in flames''
->''and you are weeping I will laugh''
->''When I have seen you mourn over loved ones''
->''I will feel bliss when your mortal souls is in ruins''
->''I will grin in the shadows''
->''For that gives me pleasure''
->''Tormenting a Christian soul''
-->-- Tormentor of Christian Souls

Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that, along with bands like Keep of Kalessin and CradleOfFilth, represents the more commercial and accessible end of black (or proto-black) metal. Instantly recognizable for their clean, keyboard-laden sound, and their [[ReligionRantSong staunchly anti-Christian lyrics]], Dimmu Borgir have carved out a unique niche for themselves both inside and outside of the BlackMetal world, particularly in recent times. Still, they are quite divisive in the anti-commercial black metal scene; many black metal fans/brainless meanie elitists/heroes ov the underworld/whatever lament their steady move towards a more commercial, less raw sound.

In 1993, the year of their formation, Dimmu Borgir played pretty standard BlackMetal, very similar to what their fellow Norwegians were doing at the time. While you'll find the occasional fan of their early work, most of the black metal community agrees that it was nothing particularly special or innovative. Only with their third release, ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'', did Dimmu Borgir begin to do anything particularly original. While still quite similar to the work of a band like Emperor, ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'' was where Dimmu Borgir began to set themselves apart from the stock standard BlackMetal tropes and techniques.

Dimmu Borgir are very divisive, so remember the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement

!!Tropes associated with Dimmu Borgir:

* ConceptAlbum: ''In Sorte Diaboli''
* ContemptibleCover: ''Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'' is a good example- it features the torso of a naked woman wrapped in barbed wire suspended over what looks like a spell circle of some kind.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first two albums and the EPs and singles from the same era have fairly lo-fi production and lyrics written more-or-less entirely in Norwegian. Starting with ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'' they upgraded their production considerably (working with [[Music/{{Hypocrisy}} Peter Tagtgren]] probably helped there) and began writing lyrics in English, establishing the sound they've had ever since.

** "Alt lys er svunnet hen" (albeit plagiarized from British prog rock band Magnum)
** "Master of Disharmony" (the Devil's Path EP version)

** "Eradication Instincs Defined"

* HornyDevils: "A Succubus In Rapture'' and "United in Unhallowed Grace" are about these.

* NamestoRunAwayFrom/NamesEndingInTh: Shagrath

* SadBattleMusic: "Det Nye Riket" opens the album For All Tid with a pretty dark and depressing orchestral and piano instrumental that would fit well into a battle scenery. Its lyrics also speak about an upcoming kingdom and there are many symbols from the Book of Revelation reversed. Later in the album's rather chilling title track, the predicted battle seems to have begun.
* {{Sampling}}: a few times on the more recent albums. Usually a result of slight IndustrialMetal influences on their sound. Symphonic parts from Dvorak are also incorporated in "Guds Fortapelse - Apenbaring av Dommedag".
* ShoutOut: Shagrath's stage name is a reference to a certain Orc from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Silenoz's stage name is a reference to Silenius, a satyr from Greek mythology.
* SopranoAndGravel: On a few songs- and, more often than not, a result of two male vocalists rather than a male and a female. Not normally, though.

-->''When I have seen your church go up in flames''
-->''and you are weeping I will laugh''
-->''When I have seen you mourn over loved ones''
-->''I will feel bliss when your mortal souls is in ruins''
-->''I will grin in the shadows''
-->''For that gives me pleasure''
-->''Tormenting a Christian soul''
-->--Tormentor of Christian Souls

!!Tropes associated with ''Dimmu Borgir'':

Relevant tropes:

* EpicRiff:
** "Mourning Palace"
** "Spellbound (By the Devil)
** "In Death's Embrace"

* EpicInstrumentalOpener

* FaceOfTheBand: Shagrath. Silenoz in the early 90s.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Enthroned Darkness Triumphant sparked out many such complaints from old fans regarding the band's style that would keep on coming for a ''long'' time. Also, similar critiques are being brought to Stormblast MMV.

* AwesomeMusic: Pretty much all of their 'classic hits'
** "Mourning Palace"
** "Spellbound (By the Devil)"
** "In Death's Embrace"
** "Master of Disharmony"
** "A Succubus in Rapture"
** "Kings of the Carnival Creation"
** "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse"
** "The Serpentine Offering"
** "Gateways
** "Dimmu Borgir"
* BaseBreaker: Widely argued, but the best candidates are ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'', ''Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'' and ''In Sorte Diaboli''.

* "IAm"Song: "Puritania" is the best example. "Antikrist" could also fit in due to its final lines.

* TheyChangedIt,NowItSucks: Enthroned Darkness Triumphant sparked out many such complaints from old fans regarding the band's style that would keep on coming for a ''long'' time. Also, similar critiques are being brought to Stormblast MMV.

* EtherealChoir: Occasionally synths are used to mimic the sound of one of these. They are mainly prevalent in the rerecording of Stormblast MMV, arguably improving a handful of songs.

* 'IAm'Song: "Puritania" is the best example. "Antikrist" could also fit in due to its final lines.

* {{Sampling}}: a few times on the more recent albums. Usually a result of slight IndustrialMetal influences on their sound.

* TheQuest: Quite a few instances, such as the lonely Viking's travel from "Over Bleknede Blaner Til Dommedag", Attila's journey from "Hunnerkongens Sorgsvarde Ferd Over Steppene", the quest of hell to defeat heaven from "In Death's Embrace", the journey of souls to the afterlife in "Nar Sjelen Hentes Til Helvete" and "Entrance", the quest to conquer Azunda in "Chaos Without Prophecy", and to an extent, the quest of one through occult meditation to other worlds which is a prevalent theme in Spiritual Black Dimensions, especially in "The Insight and the Catharsis" and "Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria".

* FolkMetal: "Antikrist" and especially "Stien" could pass as due to their flute atmospheres.

* ShoutOut: Shagrath's stage name is a reference to a certain Orc from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.

* RockMeAsmodeus: Well, they ''are'' a BlackMetal band...

* VoiceOfTheLegion: Sometimes this effect is achieved by overdubbing multiple layers of HarshVocals.

* EtherealChoir: Occasionally synths are used to mimic the sound of one of these.
* EvilSoundsRaspy: Shagrath's HarshVocals have this going on, though that's too unusual given the [[BlackMetal genre of music they play]].
* FaceOfTheBand: Shagrath.

* HellInvadesHeaven: "In Death's Embrace", where Hell not only invades Heaven, but manages to subject God to ColdBloodedTorture.
* HornyDevils: "A Succubus In Rapture'' is about one of these.

* SpikesOfVillainy
* SymphonicMetal: One of the defining bands of the BlackMetal wing of the genre. Also, they've used an actual orchestra on several of their albums.

* VoiceOfLegion: Sometimes this effect is achieved by overdubbing multiple layers of HarshVocals.

** "Tormentor Of Christian Souls", whose lyrics were apparently so extreme that even their label at the time (Nuclear Blast) [[EveryoneHasStandardsrefused to print them in the liner notes]].

Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that, along with bands like Keep of Kalessin and CradleOfFilth, represents the more commercial and accessible end of black (or proto-black) metal. Instantly recognisable for their clean, keyboard-laden sound, and their [[ReligionRantSong staunchly anti-Christian lyrics]], Dimmu Borgir have carved out a unique niche for themselves both inside and outside of the BlackMetal world, particularly in recent times. Still, they are quite divisive in the anti-commercial black metal scene; many black metal fans/brainless meanie elitists/heroes ov the underworld/whatever lament their steady move towards a more commercial, less raw sound.

Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that, along with bands like Keep of Kalessin and CradleOfFilth, represents the more commercial and accessible end of black (or proto-black) metal. Instantly recognisable for their clean, keyboard-laden sound, and their [[ReligionRantSong staunchly anti-Christian lyrics]], DimmuBorgir have carved out a unique niche for themselves both inside and outside of the BlackMetal world, particularly in recent times. Still, they are quite divisive in the anti-commercial black metal scene; many black metal fans/brainless meanie elitists/heroes ov the underworld/whatever lament their steady move towards a more commercial, less raw sound.

In 1993, the year of their formation, DimmuBorgir played pretty standard BlackMetal, very similar to what their fellow Norwegians were doing at the time. While you'll find the occasional fan of their early work, most of the black metal community agrees that it was nothing particularly special or innovative. Only with their third release, ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'', did DimmuBorgir begin to do anything particularly original. While still quite similar to the work of a band like Emperor, ''Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'' was where DimmuBorgir began to set themselves apart from the stock standard BlackMetal tropes and techniques.

Since then, DimmuBorgir have kept up a steady schedule of releases and tours, with no signs of stopping.

DimmuBorgir are very divisive, so remember the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement