Review by Brian McLean
Nearly three years have passed since Dimmu Borgir had a tour stop in Dallas with the previous show coming as part of the Ozzfest package for the 2004 summer tour on the main stage. But that has since change with the Norwegians recent show at the newly opened House of Blues.
The band was touring in support of In Sorte
Diaboli, their first studio release in nearly four years not counting
the Stormblast 05 re-release. It also featured the first American
tour with drummer Hellhammer who is best known for his work in the legendary
Mayhem.
The four band tour which included supports Unearth, Devildriver and Kataklysm was dubbed the Invaluable Darkness Tour and was the first concert package of the heavier persuasion to play the Dallas location of the House of Blues.
Each support delivered their specific brand of metal appealing to the mainly sweaty male dominated crowd. Adding a slight edge to their
set, Unearth featured in their ranks veteran drummer Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad, Death, Dark Angel) who was filling in for the recently departed Mike Justian.
As for the headliners, while track five, “The Fallen Arises” from In Sorte Diaboli was piped through the PA system, a large multi patterned curtain separated the stage from Shagrath’s lone microphone stand positioned front and stage center. With a majestic blast from keyboardist Mustis, Dimmu Borgir launched into “Progenies of the Grand Apocalypse” from Death Cult Armageddon with Shagrath standing and lit from underneath, arms out stretched as a king greeting his kingdom.
The larger stage allowed Dimmu Borgir more room for selective light and stage production, strategically timed choreography and overall distance between band members. Positioned on risers on the each back corners, Hellhammer and Mustis shared equal height overlooking the crowd. Band members utilized the various levels of stage risers and were not limited as was the case in previous stops.
Dimmu Borgir relied on the various releases not only pulling material from In Sorte Diaboli and Death Cult Armageddon but from Stormblast 05, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Enthroned Darkness Triumphant as well as Hellhammer’s solo.
Depending on the locale, the upper level that caters to the higher ticket prices had the better sound but that didn’t seem to deter those positioned arm pit to pit in the front. Both Shagrath and bassist Vortex who shared in vocal duties throughout the night sounded solid. As expected for this show of this caliber, the sound mix on with crisp leads from guitarist Silenoz and Galder but at times, Hellhammer seemed to be overpowering where as Mustis sounded as strong as a keyboard could be.
The effort Dimmu Borgir put into In Sorte Diaboli may have opened the eyes for those who considered the band just another black metal band but in reality, the band stepped away and now standing apart. What Dimmu Borgir is now creating is their own style of metal with symphonic elements. It’s these elements fans whether new or old appreciate when combined in a live setting. The Dimmu Borgir show was not just another metal show it was a visual and musical experience that only the six-piece Norwegian band can do. Dimmu Borgir has now positioned themselves as one of the premier European metal bands and Dallas anxiously awaits their return.