DIMMU BORGIR — Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (review)

DIMMU BORGIR — Enthrone Darkness Triumphant album cover

Album · 1997 · Symphonic Black Metal

5/5 · 2014-04-23
arcane-beautiful

I think in order to fully understand this album, we need to see where this album fits in the black metal timeline of the 90's. After the backlash of Euronymous' death in 1993, one of the biggest black metal albums of all time Emperor's “In The Nightside Eclipse.” One of the reasons why this album was so successful was because it took the Black Metal sound and added something so different to it that it pretty much changed the genre...for the better.

Now at this point, Dimmu Borgir started out as a 3 piece black metal act, with only Shagrath and Silenoz being prime members. Their first two albums “For All Tid” and “Stormblast” while brilliant albums where pretty much standard black metal releases, with the added keyboard sound oomphing their atmosphere. So in order to really gain attention to themselves, Silenoz and Shagrath decided to recruit 2 other members to the band, morph their sound with more modern and experimental influences.

I think the reason for the popularity of this album was how contemporary the band where able to make their sound. Now don't get me wrong, black metal is still black metal, with even most metal fans turning their nose up at mass amounts of discord. But with the popularity and rise of the Gothenburg melodic death metal scene, Dimmu decided to take splices of melodic guitar work and mix it with the darkened black metal sound. The keyboard playing from Stian Aarstad is a real highlight on the album, adding extra Gothic tones to the bands sound, with some very 80's organ, string and choir sounds.

This album also marked a different path for the band, with the lyrics of the album all written in English, rather than the bands native Norwegian. The lyrics on this album move from rather beautiful dark poetry into the odd Satanic verse now and then. Personally, I love a good bit of Satan worship now and then, but the rather beautifully penned lyrics are a good thing to see now and then.

Opening track “Mourning Palace” is a majestic piece of metal music. With haunting string melodies along with an experimental song structure and many moving instrumental sections, the song is really pushed along with Shagrath's powerful bellows.

An all time classic track has to be “Spellbound (By The Devil).” Opening with one of the most played keyboard riffs on the planet, the song has some incredible shrieks from Shagrath and in my opinion some of the best riffs ever in a black metal song.

One of the album's most darkest moments comes in the form of “Relinquishment Of Spirit & Flesh.” With blastbeats going throughout, the song is an evil piece of music, with very little melody or harmony throughout.

One of the album's most interesting moments can be heard in the track “Entrance.” With a slow and almost doomy feel to the song. Some of the best moments of this track are seen in the instrumental sections, especially the moments with just keyboards and drums.

Closing track “A Succubus In Rapture” is a rather beautiful and sexy black metal tune. With Shagrath telling the tale of a mischievous Succubus, it is a rather interesting Black Metal love song, with some astounding instrumental accompaniment.

In conclusion, this album is pretty much perfect. It is a staple in the Black Metal world and is pretty much critically acclaimed as one of the most influential albums of all time. This album is perfect in its musicality and even for an early black metal release, it still stands the test of time. Bringing the Black Metal mentality even more to the masses, it really is a paradigm of the black metal sound.

8.7/10