Dimmu Borgir Album: “Abrahadabra”

Dimmu Borgir has a polarizing affect on a lot of people. Black Metal purists hate them with a passion for "selling out" and like any band they have die hard fans as well. Personally, I stand in the middle of all of it. I don't hate them (calling a Black Metal band sell outs seems overwrought to me) but I also like a bunch of Black Metal bands more than them (Emperor/Ihsahn, Enslaved, Immortal, Satyricon to name a few). There has been a lot of hype and controversy around this album - on one hand some people are mad at the fact that ICS Vortex and Mustis were fired and how Mustis was fired (via text message) and on the other hand the band has been hyping this album as ground breaking with the addition of fuller orchestras, choirs and female vocals. After listening to the album it seems to me that all that hype is just that - hype.

I am neither blown away nor disappointed by this album because to my ears as a casual fan of the band their sound hasn't changed incredibily. There are differences sure but not so much that it changes or improves their sound drastically. Dimmu Borgir is a symphonic Black Metal band they don't expand on that on Abrahadabra or stray from it. Just maybe refine it more. This album sounds similar to Cradle Of Filth's Damnation and a Day. An album I have an equal amount of passion for. Which is to say it's alright. After listening to this album 3 times no tracks really stand out nor are there any moments that made me sit up and take notice. But it was enjoyable to listen to all the same.

So if you are a fan of Dimmu Borgir you'll probably like this album. And if you are listening objectively you won't notice the absence of Vortex or Mustis that much. However, I would say that if you are new to Dimmu Borgir and are wanting to check them out that you shouldn't start with this album,

,

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remain their best.

I know some people have not like them since Stormblast, and I read in places that they have lost their

Black Metal roots. Weather they are 'true' Black Metal or not, for me I couldn't care less - this album is fantastic in whatever Metal Genre you want to put them in. The sound on this is brilliant and having an entire symphony only enhances the atmosphere that Dimmu have created. Galder is so underrated as a guitarist and Shagrath has really taken his vocals up to another notch. I would say this album is probably closer to Death Cult Armageddon in terms of it's Symphonic Metal sound but I think this one is even more polished in terms of production. Dimmu have not limited itself to the sounds of old school black metal and seem to enjoy trying different musical approaches and that is the one thing I love about this band. I am not sure if this review encourages you to purchase this album but if like me, you are a fan of Dimmu Borgir already, chances are you will purchase this anyway. A great album and a worthy addition to your Metal collection !!!!

I went back and listened to For All Tid quite a bit right before Abrahadabra came out. After a couple of listens to the new album, it occurred to me that this is the realization of what the band was struggling to express all the way back then. Except, instead of kids trying to do it on cheap keyboards and shoe-string production budgets, the band has grown to be able to command real orchestras and choruses and has the luxury of top-notch production.

Aside from production value, this album is remarkable for its vision and musical palate. The band's willingness to, at times, take a back seat to the orchestral arrangement creates a musical environment unlike any I've heard. Certainly far more accomplished than Therion at their best on Vovin. Speaking of Therion, though, is a great segue into my one complaint with the album. I might have taken off a half star for the guest vocalists. One of them sounds like he might be one of the vocalists from Therion -- the one who put me off of that band, in fact. It's either him or another guy with an equally weird, warbley, and annoying voice. Gak. I must admit, I do miss Vortex's clean vocal work here.

Otherwise, this album is sheer brilliance and highly recommended.

If you consider yourself a Black Metal purist this album is not for you. If you are looking for a fresh sound in extreme metal and have no genre allegiances, this album is a must have.

Abrahadabra is filled with memorable epic moments that stay with you long after you stop listening. The production of this record is very polished & clean. Dimmu paints a sonic landscape that is darkly symphonic, powerfully sinister and monolithic in scale.

Many Metal bands have attempted to integrate symphonics into their music, but it ends up sounding either forced, badly arranged, cheap, or the mix in the production is just awful; but Dimmu pulls it off. The symphonic elements actually sound organic and real rather than just a guy pushing keys on $90 keyboard. I think many bands (like Epica) have symphonics that remind me of an 8bit NES video game, rather than a real, organic, larger than life orchestra.

I hope you find this review helpful, whether it leads you away from the album or towards it. The key to these reviews isn't only to give accolades toward a record, but also to ward away people who won't be happy with it. So in case I haven't given strong enough caution to my Black Metal purist friends... You wont like this CD. I promise.

Dimmu Borgir is one those bands that just grow on you. I have just about all they have put out and till here recently I listened to them every once in a while. But here lately I keep at least 2 of their cds in the stereo all the time. I just like the sound they have overall. Some have called them 'sell outs'. I call it getting better and more mature. This album proves this band although still keeping the evil overture has the ability to vary in different ways giving them a wide range of sound and creativity. If nothing else Dimmu Borgir is not boring and repetitve like other bands are guilty of. Sure you know it is them but the theatrical sound mixed with the hellish vocals gives this band a step above if you ask me. In my opinion they stand alone in their genre. This album proves they still reign in black metal for superb production,great sound,and an elaborate theatrical sense of creativity following the evil and hell they are known for. I'm not a big fan of most black metal but Id recommend this and other Dimmu Borgir albums to anyone who likes evil sounding music mixed with hellish vocals that stuns the listener with a sense of darkness and all hell.