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>> Norwegian black metal icons Dimmu Borgir hit the mainstream with every ounce of evil intact

HEAR MO’ EVIL: Dimmu Borgir

By JOHNSON CUMMINS

The most pulverizing black metal continues to come out of wintry and desolate Norway, a sound marked by gothic synths, blast beats, classical pretensions and screeching vocals, challenging Christian world tyranny and of course giving the obligatory index-and-pinky salute to the horned one.

“I don’t know if I would classify myself as a Satanist,” says Dimmu Borgir guitarist Silenoz over the phone from Norway. “I wouldn’t really label myself with any of those ‘-ist’ words, because I am my own person. I do believe in personal responsibility and, in my opinion, Islam and Christianity don’t teach that because they have this reference book that says you can do anything you want, because then all you have to do is go and get forgiven. Just look at all of the wars going on in the world. People think it’s politically motivated, but it always comes back to religion causing all of the conflict in the world. I suppose if I were anything, you could call me an atheist.”

Black metal’s supporters are only too quick to point the sellout finger at any band that tries to break out from the obscurity of the underground. With little doubt, Dimmu Borgir are probably the most successful band in black metal history, having headlined the main stage at 2004’s Ozzfest and more recently dented the Billboard chart with their epic 2007 record In Sorte Diaboli, as well as hitting number one on the Norwegian charts and actually snagging a nomination at the Norwegian Grammys. Their 1996 record Stormblast is widely regarded as a metal classic, but over their eight releases, Dimmu Borgir have become even more epic and dark, their neo-classical sound merging with black metal’s trademark blast beats and tortured vocals. By sticking to their guns, they’ve garnered new fans without ever sacrificing their finicky stalwarts in the underground.

“I think the proudest thing for me in the band is that we have never tried to make the sound different, or ever tried a tested formula to be more successful. If anything, the more we’re successful, the more brutal and less commercial we’ve become. Our last record is by far our most brutal moment, and at the same time, our most successful yet.”

Dimmu Borgir’s audience is made up of classic metalheads, goth types, black metal diehards and just about anybody under the sun. The one thing uniting this mongrel crew is there rabid dedication to the band. “We get all kinds of people to our shows, from the age of seven to 70, and that really feels good, that we can reach all of these people with different backgrounds. We get some pretty crazy fans too. Last tour, instead of getting an autograph, a guy wanted me to fuck his girlfriend while he filmed it. I just politely said no. Some of our fans are a bit over the top, but it never really gets scary.

“Then again, it would really take a lot to scare any of the people in this band.”

With Behemoth and Necronomicon at
Metropolis tonight, Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m.,
$35.50, all ages