Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
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Allegiance |
| Genre | Black Metal |
Shagrath
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Vocals
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| Tracks | 11 |
Silenoz
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Guitar
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| Runningtime |
Galder
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Guitar
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| Label | Nuclear Blast |
Vortex
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Bass
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| Release | 08 Sep. 2003 |
Nick Barker
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Drums
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| Country | Norway |
Mustis
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Keyboards
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| Similar artists | --- | ||
Norwegian Dimmu Borgir strikes us once again with an album that takes their music one step further into the unknown spheres of black metal. The new Death Cult Armageddon shows that their last release Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001), was not just a "one timer lucky draw". Recorded once again in the Swedish Studio Fredman together with Fredrik Nordström as the producer. Death Cult Armageddon was recorded with the Philharmonic orchestra of Prague, an orchestra that consists of 46 professional musicians. This results in the same heavy and unique sound picture that Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia had. Maybe even a bit more authentic, when you actually can hear what is an orchestra and what is keyboard works.
One thing that I have wondered about was, how will they succed to follow up an album like Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia? To keep the unique feeling and the mix of aggression and melody? Well, after listening a couple of track on Death Cult Armageddon I hear the same aggression, the same melancholy, futuristic feeling..perhaps a bit more melodys and much more orchestral works. And after have experienced the bands almost legendary live performance at Wacken -01. I´ve realised that they have what it takes to stand out as the most succesful black metal band on the planet.
Now to the album, the first one "Allegiance" hits of with a noice that only can be one thing, namely the cog -wheel of the Death Cult Armageddon machine. The song is kinda slow and has an almost industrial feeling. The second song, Progenies Of The Great Apocalypseis a mighty song with a theatrical feeling, like an old movie from the 50's. With a great verse and catchy melody. The best part of the song in my oppinion is when the extraordinary "clean" vocals of Vortex joins up in a almost arabic melody with the orchestra. This is a masterpiece that could have been a soundtrack On Spartacus or even Cleopatra. Lepers Among Us is in my opinion not the strongest song on the album, thou it has to much futuristic and industriall elements. But the grindparts are good And the sampler with a women claiming that "Satan was real to me.." is a nice part. And it goes on with Vredesbyrd, wich is one of two songs with Norwegian lyrics. This one has a melody part that almost brings the band back to their older days with Spiritual Black Dimensions. A great song, not much to say thou its hard to analyze the uniqe stile that the band has. It is Dimmu Borgir, plain and simple.
I could go on and one but i don't see the point in it. This is an album full of dark emotions, sometimes almost industrial. If the movie Hellraiser would be music it would be the Death Cult Armageddon. A album full of music that wont leave anyone untouched. For myself , I maybe had wanted some less Keyboard parts and alittle more aggression like the "maelstrom mephisto" on Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, and some more melancholy vocal parts with Vortex wouldn´t hurt..But I guess, as its spoken "you cant get it all..". Well if you liked the Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia album, you wont get dissapointed. And if you get the opportunity to see the band live, don't hesitate, be there. Dimmu Borgir are a supreme live act that remains in your mind for a long while after the show. Join the Death Cult Armageddon!
See
also review of: Abrahadabra
, In Sorte Diaboli
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Production
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Vocals
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Compositions
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9 |
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Summary
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9 chalices of 10 - Tim |
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