This evening in Stockholm is marked by darkness and evil at B-K, Frihamnen in Stockholm. Dimmu Borgir, currently touring with Dark Funeral and Behemoth on the In League With Satan tour, have been around since 1993 and are, if you wish to call them so, veterans of symphonic black metal.
It is evident when they take the stage and open with the song 'Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel' from the new album Grand Serpent Rising. An album that has been well received by both fans and critics, entering the top 10 in several countries, including Germany (Rock and Metal chart) and Finland (Finnish official album chart) when it was released. The opening is strong from the band's side, even though the audience is a bit subdued at first.
This does not affect the band's performance on stage, which is in a class of its own — and it shows.
The concert hall, which is rustic, a bit smaller, and industrial in character, adds to the atmosphere for this type of music, which is dark, heavy, and theatrical. The symphonic elements, together with the impressive lighting and pyrotechnics, weave the stage and venue into an impressive whole that is satisfying to witness and experience.
The setlist for the evening is a mix of the band's musical journey through time, including hits like Mourning Palace (1997), Kings Of Carnival Creation (2001), and Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse (2003). To my surprise, only a couple of songs from the new album are played tonight.
This does not bother the audience, since they recognize the older songs and that is also when they liven up, sing along, and show their appreciation in various ways. Especially during the song 'Gateways' (2010), on which vocalist Agnete Kjølsrud from the band Djerv participated, the audience is heard singing "Gateways," and this banger is hugely appreciated.
The pyrotechnics make it very warm near the stage and staff have to hand out water to those closest.
I myself sweat profusely, am entirely overdressed since I chose not to leave my denim jacket in the cloakroom. Eventually, I feel the need to step out for a while into the adjacent room by the entrance, like many others, to cool off.
I decide to move a bit further back in the venue, partly to escape the heat but also to get a better overall view of what is happening on stage — and what a sight it is!
From here, you can see better how advanced and beautiful the lighting is, how incredibly well it meshes with the music pouring towards you. The sound is also better here than near the stage.
The spectacle unfolding is, to say the least, grand. It is the symphonic elements, as mentioned earlier, that make what can be seen and heard from the stage feel mighty, immense! Like an approaching doomsday!
Add to that the way the audience interacts with the band, with horns up, raised fists, and singalongs, and the experience is heightened even more! Also, the way Dimmu Borgir uses tempo changes in their songs significantly amplifies the sense of impending doom.
The way singer Shagrath and the others in the band move on stage does not feel rehearsed or choreographed, but more natural.
Here it is clear that they have long experience of standing on stage and entertaining an audience.
When I finally take the time to look a bit more closely around the sea of people, I discover that the audience is a very fine mix of ages. Everything from teenagers in their late teens to middle-aged metal fans are represented tonight.
Some have corpsepaint and battle vests, others shirts or dresses and high heels. To my delight, I realize that this genre of music, though dark, demonic, and heavy, is far from dying out!
With the song 'Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse,' Dimmu Borgir ends their set this evening and the audience is heard giving it their all, singing along at the top of their lungs.
If one were to mention something negative about this concert, it would be that the sound near the stage was a bit muddy. Further back in the venue, it was much better. Whether this is an issue of sound production or the venue itself, I won't say.
Finally, I cannot fairly describe the experience Dimmu Borgir offers live. That they are incredibly talented is something no one can dispute. I will definitely see them again, if given the chance!
