5 votes

Dimmu Borgir – Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel (2026)

5 comments

  1. [4]
    0x29A
    Link
    (Disclaimer: if you like it, more power to you, don't take my criticism as an attack on what you enjoy. I can be fairly opinionated on music/metal in general) I'm personally pretty disappointed in...

    (Disclaimer: if you like it, more power to you, don't take my criticism as an attack on what you enjoy. I can be fairly opinionated on music/metal in general) I'm personally pretty disappointed in this track, but I didn't expect anything better from modern Dimmu.

    Compared to early Dimmu, I find it lacking substance and to be rather boring and slow. The guitars are barely present, the symphonics are overbearing more than they are complimentary, just feels like the further watering down of their work. The last full album I could stomach by them was Abrahadabra, which I think had some good tracks- I've got a soft spot for parts of it. But even Abra was a dilution compared to prior records which are worlds better. Even the one right before Abra (In Sorte Diaboli) is night-and-day better. Then, IMO, Eonian took another step down from that, and was so watered down that I never went back to it. Maybe one or two tracks I enjoyed. Just not pleasant to listen to... Now this just feels like an even more boring Eonian. It just feels like... nothing happens. Just kinda slow, plodding, symphonic emptiness. And while it's true that I have a general distaste for any metal or metal-adjacent stuff that is symphonic, usually symphoblack, when done right, is the exception to the rule

    4 votes
    1. fidwell
      Link Parent
      Gotta agree. Dimmu used to be one of my favorite bands, but that was 20 years ago... they haven't put out anything really worthwhile (imo) since Death Cult Armageddon, and this doesn't change that...

      Gotta agree. Dimmu used to be one of my favorite bands, but that was 20 years ago... they haven't put out anything really worthwhile (imo) since Death Cult Armageddon, and this doesn't change that one bit. This song has no fresh ideas (or any ideas at all?).

      The music video does have nice production, I suppose, but again nothing they couldn't have done 20 years ago. Props for the beret, anti-props for the three (???!!) kick drums. What a tease when there's like one blastbeat in the whole song.

      3 votes
    2. BeardyHat
      Link Parent
      Man, what's his bucket in a golfer hat/beret just cracked me up when I saw it. I credit Dimmu with introducing me to extreme Metal back in High School, circa 1999. This? I dunno. It's fine,...

      Man, what's his bucket in a golfer hat/beret just cracked me up when I saw it.

      I credit Dimmu with introducing me to extreme Metal back in High School, circa 1999. This? I dunno. It's fine, but...whatever I don't intend to listen to it any further than this. It certainly exists.

      2 votes
    3. Shevanel
      Link Parent
      I felt similarly. I was initially surprised at the vibe as I haven’t kept up with them in a while, but then realized that the album with which I’m most familiar, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia,...

      I felt similarly. I was initially surprised at the vibe as I haven’t kept up with them in a while, but then realized that the album with which I’m most familiar, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, released 25(!!!) years ago. I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised by the changes.

      2 votes
  2. tomorrow-never-knows
    Link
    Hearing a bit of an Immortal / Bathory feel in some parts, plus lyrics all in Norwegian 🤘 Has me the most hyped for a Dimmu album than I recall in a long time.

    Hearing a bit of an Immortal / Bathory feel in some parts, plus lyrics all in Norwegian 🤘 Has me the most hyped for a Dimmu album than I recall in a long time.

    3 votes