Dimmu Borgir Album: “Stormblast [Bonus DVD]”

This album is beautiful in every way. The production is great. By this I don't mean that the sound quality is high - it is quite low. But I don't think the music would have benefitted from Puritanical style production; the analog quality definitely adds to the atmosphere. In contrast from most chaotic black metal bands, Stormblast is actually more soothing than anything else - a good evening listen, especially during rain. It is an album that can be listened to straight through, and that is the best kind.

Despite Dimmu Borgir's new "melodic" material,Stormblast is and will always be a classic and amazing album!

This is my favorite Dimmu album, which really isn't saying much in perspective, but I do like it. As for my black metal fix, I'm preferential to Agathodaimon, Burzum, Dark Funeral, Emperor, Immortal, Satyricon, and the like rather than Dimmu and COF. But this album seems to fit into the category I like. It's supposedly pretty vicious lyrically, but I don't understand Norwegian so they could be talking about golden showers for all I know. I don't care either. I'm interested in their fine musical compositions, which mix perfectly-executed keyboards with roaring guitars and strong percussion, as well as Shagrath's trademark vocal style. It is a very cold album; maybe not cold in that evil way that Emperor is, but in a more bleak, empty way like Agalloch. Definitely a must-have for people interested in good metal. So what if the production is horrid.

Dimmu Borgir is a band which started out with a rather unique sound - very melodic with a heavy emphasis on synth and piano. "Stormblast" is the zenith of the old Dimmu Borgir sound - majestic synth and piano melodies (one track is completely piano and synth) with guitars used mostly to compliment the keyboards. This is also the last Dimmu Borgir album featuring lyrics sung in Norwegian, a language wich (at least I feel) sounds better and conveys the message of the music much better than English. This is also their last album cover featuring the traditional, undecipherable "spikey logo". Since "Stormblast" Dimmu Borgir have pretty much forsaken their original, unique sound, opting instead for a more polished, trendy sound as well as tastless cover art just like about a million other commercial BM bands - too bad.

To me, Stormblast is a far better album than Dimmu's much-loved Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. Although I disagree with those who say Enthrone was too "commercial," I do think it was a little bit TOO clean a piece that was probably intended for those who find typical chaotic black metal too hard to stomach. And though I do enjoy Enthrone, I enjoy the musicianship (particularly the piano) and songwriting far better on Stormblast. It's hard to comment on individual songs, since, as is the case with most black metal albums, you have to look at Stormblast in its entirety, but highlights are frequent. "Sorgens Kammer" is a surprisingly relaxing piano instrumental. "Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen," "Da Den Kristne Satte Livet Til," and "Stormblast" are all excellent.

Sadly, the production here is atrocious. The drums are thin and the guitars are muffled. This is the album's only glaring flaw, though, and should not hold back prospective buyers.

In addition to all the album's good points, all the lyrics on Stormblast are in Norwegian, so if nothing else you'll feel really hardcore while listening to it.