Dimmu Borgir – Interdimensional Summit

Well, I had something completely different to post for today, but somebody decided to release new music after 7 years. And, of course, when a band you grew up with releases new music, you stand up and press play. To set the record straight, I still remember the exact moment in my life I first listened to Dimmu Borgir (it was this one, many, many years ago).

So, what do we have here. After Abrahadabra, I didn’t expect them to rehire Vortex and Mustis and record another Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, but still… Those two guys are sorely missed here, even more so than on the last album. What we are left here is what I had dreaded: a whitewashed version of a band I had once enjoyed greatly. I honestly don’t even understand why they have 2 guitarists. The sound is so thin that the only explanation I have is that one has to concentrate on making funny faces while the other one actually does the playing. Bass is non-existent, but that has never been a problem even when Vortex was manhandling it. Shagrath’s vocals are the same as they’ve ever been, so no surprise there.

The biggest issues I have with the drums. They sound like something Lars Ulrlich would come up with. And this is Daray (Vader, Vesania) playing here. His contribution on Abrahadabra was one of the highlights of that album, but here they managed to somehow completely neuter him. I’m at a complete loss of how this happened. And then there are the keyboards; as I said, Mustis is not easily replaced (see here a brief display of his skill), but this is some next level elevator jingles we need to put up with.

The Harry Potter choirs from Abrahadabra are back with a vengeance. No self respecting metal band would have choirs play in a major key over supposedly evil riffs, but here we are subjected exactly to that. And the production really doesn’t help. The choirs and keyboards completely cover the guitars, not to mention the non-existent rhythm section, creating a completely uneven atmosphere.

I’ll stop the tirade now. I dearly hope they somehow messed up and released the weakest track of the forthcoming album here… Fingers crossed (inverted cross of course).