Dimmu Borgir are one of the big four Norwegian metal bands. They are also the band with most commercial success, having been on the Billboard sales list for Death Cult Armageddon in 2003. In 2011 they played a concert at Oslo Spektrum together with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the choir Schola Cantorum. Yesterday night they were the headliner at the Inferno festival.

Galder and Silenoz

Of all the metal bands I have seen and heard, Dimmu Borgir is the one that most reminds me of the music I grew up with – sympho rock and prog rock. The thing I like with Dimmu Borgir is that they have a symphonic, or orchestral way of writing songs, making them big and epic with lots of time changes and also original an unexpected harmonic changes.

Shagrath

Like many other bands that have been together for a long time, the members of Dimmu Borgir have changed during the 21 years the band has existed. The singer Shagrath and guitarist Silenoz are the only founding members left. Guitarist Galder have been with the band since 2000, and those three are in front during their concerts. Their keyboardist, Gerlioz (Geir Bratland) plays an important part of their sound, and drummer Daray and bassist Cyrus lay down a hard and deadly precise backing.

Silenoz

The concert last night lasted for two hours, letting the band cover a wide selection of their CDs and songs. The venue was packed, and the band did a splendid job. We also got the song Gateway from their latest album, Abrahadabra, with singer Agnete Kjølsrud on taped vocals.

Galder

Dimmu Borgir is still my favorite Norwegian metal band. Unfortunately they don’t play many gigs, but I am lucky to have seen them both yesterday and at Oslo Spektrum, plus two other times the last seven years. I hope to see them more, and with the success of the concert last night, they should be inspired to keep it going.

Gerlioz

Cyrus and Silenoz

All pictures are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.