Dimmu Borgir Album: “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant [Reloaded]”

Despite the line-up changes which occured after this album and can be deemed nothing else except improvements, this remains my favorite Dimmu release yet. The album has the atmosphere of Stormblast but with better production and all English lyrics except for one of my favorites on the CD; Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde, which is the unlisted track 11. The production is also in my opinion much better than the later Spiritual Black Dimensions, while not too polished and overdone.

The CD is full of Dimmu classics from Mourning Palace, Spellbound, In Deaths Embrace to Tormentor of Christian Souls and A Succubus in Rapture. The atmosphere of the CD is killer, with the melodic riffing and some of the best keyboard work of it's kind done by former keyboardist Stian Aarstad.

Known for being one of those black metal bands that will not blast beat you into the ground, Dimmu Borgir shows their range on this album, going from brutal to melodic and back while not skipping a beat. Defintely a classic not only in the black metal genre but in any musical genre.....

Dimmu Borgir's third album, "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant," was their first album to feature keyboards. And while this record was coincidently the group's breakthrough, it also brought on legions of haters who claimed Dimmu "sold out." But the truth about "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" is that it's a great black metal album (one of the genre's high points), and also one of Dimmu's most creative releases. The use of Stian's keyboards don't detract from the songs' heaviness, but it does add more depth and atmosphere to the music, making the songs sound fuller and richer. Plus, the use of (what sounds like) a choir, orchestra, and violins adds some extra ear candy and helps a couple of the songs to be quite pretty. But, that's not to give you the wrong impression, because the guitars and drums are still brutal. So, the final result is an album which is quite heavy but also pretty. There are some songs (like the fiery "Mourning Palace") that are just brutal, but most of these songs mix melody with metal. For example, see "In Death's Embrace," which augments piano keys with rapid-fire riffs, and "Entrance" and "A Succubus In Rapture," which are backed by both creepy, chilling piano keys and scorching buzzsaw riffs. Also, the bonus track ("Raabjorn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde") begins with some choir singing and melodic, almost aquatic instruments before launching into a blistering barrage of power chords and stomping drums. The last two highlights are "The Night Masquerade" and "Master Of Disharmony." Both of these songs could have been lifted from a 1349 or Dark Funeral demo, because they both feature walls of searing guitars, jackhammer drums, and high-pitched, skin crawling shrieks.

If you're looking for melody-deficient black metal, pick up some Mayhem or one of Dimmu's first discs. But if you want a true symphonic black metal album which successfully incorporates beautiful parts with brutal ones, start here.

Great music, the lyrics on the other hand aren't so good. Lyrically these boys are trying WAY too hard to be evil and have crossed the line into the world of lyrical irrelevance. Call me crazy but these songs about Satan just chap my ass. There's little or no poetry or art to their lyrics. And unlike other black metal bands like Darkthrone, Emperor or especially Burzum, the music just doesn't fit the lyrical content. I get the idea that they're praising satan not because they actually believe anthing, but for shock value. And hey if you play black metal you're supposed to sing about satan, how tired. At least when Slayer sings Lucifer's praises they sound convincing.

OK that said, the music on Enthrone Darkness Triumphant absolutely rocks. Its much better than the slight lyrics. Good use of keyboards, which I usually am suspicious of in metal, coupled with aggressive guitar and dynamic song writing. Every song has memorable and oftimes insane riffs and melodies. This is some harmonically interesting and diverse music. There's dissonance, consonance and dynamic tension to be found in every song. "Spellbound by the Devil" (oh crap, more satan) has an excellent use of mournful yet epic keyboards ranging in sound from pipe organ to sampled chorus. There are lots of stops and starts and complex yet engaging shifts in tempo and mood, all in one song.

Dimmu Borgir write some very compelling, dark and yet beautiful music that can really take you out of yourself. I'm not a big fan of symphonic black metal but this is certainly one of the most interesting metal releases of 1997 and well worth getting. Just ditch the satan cliches next time OK?

Before I even begin a review on this album I must get one thing out of the way, Digestin fecess is a complete musicial imbecile. He/she has little to say about Dimmu Borgir (or dummy burger as they put it, how mature) and then says if you want real music listen to deicide? Hmm now i do enjoy deicide but, they only talk about hating god and religious lies, and shes calling dimmu borgir repetitive, ironic. Then, she spends half of her review making dumb pre teen gothic stereotypes. Forget her though, onto the album.

This was my first DB album about a year ago. I was at first slightly dissapointed but it grew on me and so did the band in general. I like the old style which seems more keyboard influenced ( i do love dimmu borgir's new albums though) and shagroth has raspier vocals and the clean vocals werent there that are on PEM and DCA. The lyrics eh yeah they aren't great but the music is incredible and they aren't as bad as everybody makes them out to be. This album also includes my favorite db track "mourning palace" So if you love db and don't have this album i couldn't recomend it more. Enjoy.

And before I stop wasting your time, I would like to discuss the whole poseur bm thing. I love bands like cradle of filth and dimmu borgir and i refuse to act like i hate them just to gain some credibility. i also though love marduk, burzum, bathory(rip) immortal darkthrone, mayhem emperor etc. So in conclusion, its ok to not like a band and we all have opinions but why keep kicking them?

Unbelievable, exceptional black metal masterpiece! I can listen to the entire album beginning to end over and over again. Granted, some songs are preferred over others but if I have the time I don't mind listening to the album all the way through. The best songs in my opinion are: Spellbound (By the DEVIL!), In Death's Embrace, Tormentor of Christian Souls, and Master of Disharmony. It may take the novice a few times through to really grow on ya, but once it does, it's awesome.

I find listening to it while drunk much more satisfying. I do not know if the band intended this or not, but it's true. Not to say that it is not good while sober, just better when drinking.

It's different than newer DB, but does not compromise on the metal aspect. The guitars aren't likely to fill out your speakers, they're not as textured and full, but they are better than the previous albums, and the message comes across in the production loud and clear. If you're a fan of any of their albums, you must have this.