| Written by Xavier Cattarinich TRACK LISTING The Unveiling Interdimensional Summit ÆTheric Council Of Wolves & Snakes The Empyrean Phoenix Lightbringer I Am Sovereign Archaic Correspondence Alpha Aeon Omega Rite Of Passage Release Date: May 4, 2018 Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: www.dimmu-borgir.com www.facebook.com/dimmuborgir www.twitter.com/dimmuborgir |  |
DIMMU BORGIR IS:
Shagrath - Vocals Silenoz - Rhythm guitar Galder - Lead guitar Daray - Drums Gerlioz – Keyboards & synthesizers
Victor Brandt – Bass & backing vocals
Shagrath - Vocals Silenoz - Rhythm guitar Galder - Lead guitar Daray - Drums Gerlioz – Keyboards & synthesizers
Victor Brandt – Bass & backing vocals
Following an extended absence, Norway’s Dimmu Borgir have returned at last with Eonian, their first studio album since 2010's Abrahadabra. In my recent overview of Therion’s Beloved Antichrist, I mentioned that the latter’s 2001 masterpiece, Secret Of The Runes, remains in my opinion the very best symphonic metal album ever recorded. That said, Dimmu Borgir have deservedly garnered as much recognition for the atmospheric orchestration that has become a cornerstone of their symphonic black metal sound from Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) on. I would even argue that as of 2007 and the unveiling of In Sorte Diaboli, their creative genius has eclipsed that of Therion on every level. This is especially true when one compares Eonian with the bloated and less than stellar Beloved Antichrist.
Eonian picks up where Abarahadabra left off, with Dimmu Borgir forging ahead with their most melodic and commercially accessible offering to date. So-called black metal “purists” will no doubt be displeased with the shiny result, and also with lyrical themes that largely eschew the tired satanism/anti-Christian sentiments that had been so prominent on all of Dimmu Borgir’s recordings since Stormblåst (1996). The current opus delves into cosmic and deeply spiritual, if Nietzschean self-exploration. Although the lyrics throughout Eonian straddle a fine line between dark, esoteric poetry and pretentious, new age occult ramblings regarding the nature of the self and reality, one can also find genuine wisdom therein. On “ÆTheric,” frontman Shagrath declares:
To govern thyself
You must know your darkness
To govern thyself
You must know your past
Later, on “I Am Sovereign,” he opines:
Knowing when to end a journey
Is to recognize where it begins
What we really seek is not here
But on the other side of fear
We learn as we teach
We teach as we speak
We speak as we seek
We seek what we learn
The beauty of such lyrics lies not only in their depth, but in their openness to a broad range of individual interpretations. Yet fear not, longtime fans, for Dimmu Borgir still manage to give the devil his due, nowhere more explicitly than on “Lightbringer”. In that song, they acknowledge Lucifer’s metaphorical role as the font of enlightenment that exposes knowledge, both forbidden and forgotten (thanks to the secrecy and deception of orthodox belief systems), as well as the disillusionment bred by conformity of thought. While Eonian is a highly polished recording with big production values, only “Interdimensional Summit” comes across as overproduced. It also happens to be the most upbeat song on a surprisingly uplifting album, and arguably the only track where the otherwise stunning choir comes across as overbearing. The synth and choral melody on “Interdimensional Summit” never fail to remind me of “This Corrosion” by The Sisters Of Mercy. While “Interdimensional Summit” is a half-decent song, it is by far my least favourite on Eonian. It’s unfortunate that it was the first single off the album.
“Interdimensional Summit” notwithstanding, the mix on Eonian offers a perfect balance between the prominent choral, symphonic and electronic/ambient elements, on the one hand, and the black metal elements on the other. Shagrath’s distinctive vocals—ranging from resonant and authoritative spoken word to venomous rasping—are crystal clear and up front in the mix, and justly so. Drummer Daray still delivers blast beats, but given how dynamic, multi-textured, atmospheric and epic the compositions are, his broad rhythmic palette absolutely shines. In particular, the tribal drumming (complemented by aboriginal chanting) on “Council Of Wolves & Snakes” is remarkable. Galder’s soaring lead guitar solos are inspired throughout, and Silenoz’s riffs on opener “The Unveiling” and “ÆTheric” are likewise compelling. Everything crescendoes in the majestic “Alpha Aeon Omega,” which is followed by the equally satisfying instrumental epilogue, “Rite Of Passage.”
Dimmu Borgir’s current sound and lyrical direction are fresh yet familiar, and also promising. They highlight the band’s ongoing evolution as well as a new level of maturity, and hopefully offer a glimpse of things to come. Eonian always leaves me wanting more, and definitely was worth the long wait. It's been in high rotation ever since I received it, and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. While old school black metal fans with an aversion to change will probably spit on it, I think the album is a bold step forward and one of Dimmu Borgir’s finest.
Final Rating: 9/10
Eonian picks up where Abarahadabra left off, with Dimmu Borgir forging ahead with their most melodic and commercially accessible offering to date. So-called black metal “purists” will no doubt be displeased with the shiny result, and also with lyrical themes that largely eschew the tired satanism/anti-Christian sentiments that had been so prominent on all of Dimmu Borgir’s recordings since Stormblåst (1996). The current opus delves into cosmic and deeply spiritual, if Nietzschean self-exploration. Although the lyrics throughout Eonian straddle a fine line between dark, esoteric poetry and pretentious, new age occult ramblings regarding the nature of the self and reality, one can also find genuine wisdom therein. On “ÆTheric,” frontman Shagrath declares:
To govern thyself
You must know your darkness
To govern thyself
You must know your past
Later, on “I Am Sovereign,” he opines:
Knowing when to end a journey
Is to recognize where it begins
What we really seek is not here
But on the other side of fear
We learn as we teach
We teach as we speak
We speak as we seek
We seek what we learn
The beauty of such lyrics lies not only in their depth, but in their openness to a broad range of individual interpretations. Yet fear not, longtime fans, for Dimmu Borgir still manage to give the devil his due, nowhere more explicitly than on “Lightbringer”. In that song, they acknowledge Lucifer’s metaphorical role as the font of enlightenment that exposes knowledge, both forbidden and forgotten (thanks to the secrecy and deception of orthodox belief systems), as well as the disillusionment bred by conformity of thought. While Eonian is a highly polished recording with big production values, only “Interdimensional Summit” comes across as overproduced. It also happens to be the most upbeat song on a surprisingly uplifting album, and arguably the only track where the otherwise stunning choir comes across as overbearing. The synth and choral melody on “Interdimensional Summit” never fail to remind me of “This Corrosion” by The Sisters Of Mercy. While “Interdimensional Summit” is a half-decent song, it is by far my least favourite on Eonian. It’s unfortunate that it was the first single off the album.
“Interdimensional Summit” notwithstanding, the mix on Eonian offers a perfect balance between the prominent choral, symphonic and electronic/ambient elements, on the one hand, and the black metal elements on the other. Shagrath’s distinctive vocals—ranging from resonant and authoritative spoken word to venomous rasping—are crystal clear and up front in the mix, and justly so. Drummer Daray still delivers blast beats, but given how dynamic, multi-textured, atmospheric and epic the compositions are, his broad rhythmic palette absolutely shines. In particular, the tribal drumming (complemented by aboriginal chanting) on “Council Of Wolves & Snakes” is remarkable. Galder’s soaring lead guitar solos are inspired throughout, and Silenoz’s riffs on opener “The Unveiling” and “ÆTheric” are likewise compelling. Everything crescendoes in the majestic “Alpha Aeon Omega,” which is followed by the equally satisfying instrumental epilogue, “Rite Of Passage.”
Dimmu Borgir’s current sound and lyrical direction are fresh yet familiar, and also promising. They highlight the band’s ongoing evolution as well as a new level of maturity, and hopefully offer a glimpse of things to come. Eonian always leaves me wanting more, and definitely was worth the long wait. It's been in high rotation ever since I received it, and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. While old school black metal fans with an aversion to change will probably spit on it, I think the album is a bold step forward and one of Dimmu Borgir’s finest.
Final Rating: 9/10
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