DIMMU BORGIR: "Everything's more "overground" up here..."
It is obvious that all of you know this worldwide known band. Some call them geniuses and innovators, some characterize them as posers and betrayers, but the undeniable fact is that DIMMUs have never been ignored and I suppose this fact speaks for the band. As for me, I prefer their earlier stuff (especially "For All Tid") but still I don't despise their present efforts. Anyway, the guys are ready to unleash their newest full-lenght album (certainly on Nuclear Blast). Below is what Silenoz had to say. (Krasniy)
Greetings from Eastern Europe. Are you in the mood for the interview?
Greetings! Yes, I'm in mood for the interview!
It's not a secret that DIMMU BORGIR is currently (November, 2000) in the process of recording of the new album. Could you inform us of the corresponding details, such as the album's current readiness, its name, involved permanent musicians and session guests, producer and the studio.
The new Dimmu Borgir album, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, is now finished recorded! There will be 11 tracks on the album and it was recorded in Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden with Fredrik Nordstr�m as producer.
The line-up is Shagrath-vocals, Silenoz-guitars, Galder-guitars, Vortex-bass, Mustis-keys and Barker-drums. We had a couple guests starring, such as Andy La Rocque doing solo on the re.recording of Devil's Path which will be featured on the japanese release. Fredrik, the producer, doing solo on Burn In Hell, unfortunately he was not able to do the eggs...
Will there be any audial or conceptional surprises on the upcoming full-lenght? If yes, we would like to know the details.
The new album contain the best from every Dimmu release so far, I guess that's fair to say, allthough it sounds more modern and updated, more aggressive and upfront sounding! We've experimented a bit too, but not anything totally wild, it'll still be very much Dimmu, in the 21st Century!
As most undeground people do, I divide DB's evolution in two parts: pre-Nuclear Blast era and the current state. Your music definitely faced changes after you'd got into NB sight. However, a significant number of orthodox/true black metal fans ceased to worship you. How do you think, is it a loss for the band?
I don't agree with you fully, because at the time we signed the deal with NB we had most of the material for Enthrone Darkness written and we had allready decided to go to Abyss studio to do the recording, whether we got signed on a major independent label as NB or not, so if people insinuating us selling out to be more commercial for the benefit of the label they're mistaken. And that's what a lot of people do, they draw conclusions just because we change label, and if some cease to "worship" us because of that, then fine, they show that they weren't true fans of us and this kind of music in the first place so we don't need people like that! No band needs people like that! You enjoy music because of the music first and foremost, that always have to come first, anything else is pretty irrelevant! So my answer to your question would be it's not a loss!
Will you give any gigs till the end of 2000 or you are too busy to leave the studio?
We were supposed to play some shows on the US east-coast before christmas but that won't happen now. We're allready busy doing promotion and planning the coming tour, which will start on March the 29th!
What was the reason that made you cease your collaboration with Peter Tagtgren and Abyss studio after the release of "Spiritual Black Dimensions"?
We had been recording with Peter for 3 releases and we had gotten more or less the same sound so we decided that we needed to do something fresh and new, so we went for Studio Fredman in Gothenburg. As we wanted a more upfront, in your face production, were you can hear all the instruments perfect and clear, we had the impression that Fredrik understood what we wanted and that's exactly what we achieved! We're really happy and satisfied about how everything turned out!
In our recent conversation you mentioned that Tjodalv, one of the founding DB members, was asked to leave the band. Were there any conflicts between him and the other band members? What are your present relationships with Tjodalv and his project SUSPERIA?
We're good friends with Tjodalv and Susperia! There were no disputes or conflicts between him or any other bandmember, it simply didn't work out musically anymore and we all knew it, so we asked him to leave and he understood the situation. I believe he's much happier now and I know Susperia will reach far in this overpopulated music-world! They are joining us on the European tour as well!
Let us digress from DB affairs a bit. Hordes of national-socialist/nazi oriented black/heathen bands have spawned in Europe (especially in its eastern part). Most of them play DARKTHRONE inspired black metal, spiced up with politics and neopagan/nazi ideology. What is your position on this phenomenon? Have you ever had any collaboration with the representatives of NS genre?
No, and I know we will never have any collaboration with anything like that! Politics is for politicians and if you think you're more suited for politics than music then you should stop playing music and concentrate on what you really want!
An unordinary one: are you the patriot of your country? By the way, what are your favorite countries (besides Norge, of course)?
Yes, I consider myself as a patriot on behalf of Norway's beautiful nature and history! My favourite country besides Norway must be Mexico!
Who, by your opinion, are DB's most notable supporters among the Norwegian underground scene members?
I don't think so...! I don't even know if there exist an "underground-scene" in Norway anymore...everything's more "overground" up here...!
Could you cite some of the band members' non-musical occupations.
??? (I perceive it as the absence of the aforementioned :-) - Ed.)
How do you see the evolution of DIMMU BORGIR let's say in the next 5 years? What would make you leave the band?
Why would I leave the band? I would only leave the band if I wanted to do it myself. That other question is impossible to answer, however, ask me in 5 years how I think Dimmu has evolved!
Final words and comments.
Thanks for the interview and support! Seek no higher than the powers of yourself! Dimmu Borgir wish you luck on your further journey! Horns to all fans and readers!
Official DIMMU BORGIR Homepage
Interview taken by KRASNIY.
Back