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Album Review

Dimmu Borgir – “Forces of the Northern Night” [Album Review]

Dimmu Borgir have been at the top of the symphonic black metal league for years now. This live package demonstrates exactly why. Read our review here…

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Following the hugely controversial emergence of the black metal scene over two decades ago with bands like Emperor and Mayhem grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons, there was a second wave of bands who really showed what the genre was capable of. One of those bands is Dimmu Borgir and this live DVD/audio set featuring two live shows recorded in 2011 and 2012 respectively, shows a band who have been at the top of the genre for some considerable time now.

Unfortunately, very few live albums capture what a band is truly about but this is not the case here as Forces of the Northern Night captures everything that makes Dimmu Borgir such an exhilarating band to witness in the live arena. Hundreds of thousands of fans the world over worship the symphonic Norwegian band and, while many others may mock the black metal scene, as far as heavy metal shows go, those fans will testify to the fact that the Dimmu Borgir live experience is something else. So when you’re a band at the top of your game, for massive shows like the ones the Norwegian merauders chose to capture for this package, the band have to make sure that fans are treated something unforgettable. Taking the core of their sound, the Nordic band ramp it a notch or two by firstly roping in the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Choir then, for the second, at Wacken, incorporating 100 musicians into the show to add extra oomph to what is already a majestic experience. Stepping aside from all the pomp and majesty of it all, the set-list alone offers up a slew of black metal classics including “Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse” and “The Serpentine Offering” all of which are delivered in bombastic fashion and simply drive home how unstoppable this band are.

It might have been while since we’ve had any new studio output from the band but this live disc will not only keep fans of the band under control as they patiently wait for the return of Shagrath and his henchmen but also keep us excited in the hope that whatever symphonic magic they weave next, the Norwegians do it in a way that puts the competition to shame.

Forces Of The Northern Night Track Listing:

CD1: Live at Oslo Spektrum:

01. Xibir (orchestra)
02. Born Treacherous
03. Gateways
04. Dimmu Borgir (orchestra)
05. Dimmu Borgir
06. Chess with the Abyss
07. Ritualist
08. A Jewel Traced Through Coal
09. Eradication Instincts Defined (orchestra)

CD2: Live at Oslo Spektrum:

01. Vredesbyrd
02. Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
03. The Serpentine Offering
04. Fear and Wonder (orchestra)
05. Kings of the Carnival Creation
06. Puritania
07. Mourning Palace
08. Perfection or Vanity (orchestra)

DVD1: Live at Oslo Spektrum:

01. Xibir (orchestra)
02. Born Treacherous
03. Gateways
04. Dimmu Borgir (orchestra)
05. Dimmu Borgir
06. Chess with the Abyss
07. Ritualist
08. A Jewel Traced Through Coal
09. Eradication Instincts Defined (orchestra)
10. Vredesbyrd
11. Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
12. The Serpentine Offering
13. Fear and Wonder (orchestra)
14. Kings of the Carnival Creation
15. Puritania
16. Mourning Palace
17. Perfection or Vanity (orchestra)
+Documentary

DVD2: Live at Wacken Open Air:

01. Xibir (orchestra)
02. Born Treacherous
03. Gateways
04. Dimmu Borgir (orchestra)
05. Dimmu Borgir
06. Chess with the Abyss
07. Ritualist
08. A Jewel Traced Through Coal
09. Eradication Instincts Defined (orchestra)
10. Vredesbyrd
11. Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
12. The Serpentine Offering
13. Fear and Wonder (orchestra)
14. Kings of the Carnival Creation
15. Puritania
16. Mourning Palace
17. Perfection or Vanity (orchestra)

Run Time: 83:25
Release Date: April 14, 2017

Check out the track “Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse”

I have an unhealthy obsession with bad horror movies, the song Wanted Dead Or Alive and crap British game shows. I do this not because of the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle it affords me but more because it gives me an excuse to listen to bands that sound like hippos mating.

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