DIMMU BORGIR — Abrahadabra (review)

DIMMU BORGIR — Abrahadabra album cover Album · 2010 · Symphonic Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Abrahadabra" is the 9th full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act Dimmu Borgir. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in September 2010. While the band are mostly known for their synth driven symphonic black metal, they´ve opted to include an ensemble orchestra, the "Kringkastingsorkestret" (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra), as well as the "Schola Cantorum choir" on "Abrahadabra".

While that choice gives the album a slightly more organic sound than it´s direct predecessors, the overall music style is reminiscent of "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)" and "Death Cult Armageddon (2003)". That means symphonic, epic, neo-classical influenced, multi-layered and at times pompeous black metal. The band are very skilled musicians and everything is delivered with militant clinical precision. The sound production is clear and powerful. From the opening notes of the classical intro piece "Xibir" to the closing notes of "Endings and Continuations", Dimmu Borgir deliver one well thought out symphonic black metal track after another. It´s no wonder they are often refered to as kings of the genre. The quality of everything they do is simply so high that any competition is blown to pieces.

While all of the above are certainly positives I´m still listening for the really memorable riffs, but that´s more or less been the case since day one when we´re talking Dimmu Borgir. The overall musical concept comes first. Considering that fact that "Abrahadabra" is a black metal album, it´s awfully polished and even though the band blast away and lead vocalist Shagrath sings his raw and raspy vocals the best he has learned, I still think the music lacks real bite. It´s almost too artsy for it´s own good. I know legions of fans disagree with me and while "Abrahadabra" might not make my blood boil, I of course awknowledge a quality release when I hear one and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is warranted.
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Time Signature wrote:
more than 2 years ago
There are certainly two very memorable elements, for me, in "Gateways": the aggressive, demonic quality of the female vocals and when the band kick into a more traditional blastbeat black metal section. For some reason, those two elements still send shivers down my spine.

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