As if one cue, the dark clouds and storms rolled into Melbourne town to welcome Norwegian black metal pioneers Dimmu Borgir back to our lands. With their last visit being for Soundwave, this is their first headline run of shows in Australia. Retreating into the darkness over the past 7 years, recent album Eonian marked the bands return just in time for them to celebrate their 25 years of darkness.
With one show sold out, this was the second, but first of their Melbourne shows on this their first ever headlining tour of Australia. When I walked in on the tail end of Earth Rot’s set, the crowd was noticeably sparse. This filled out by the time Dimmu Borgir nonchantly walked onto to the stage one by one in a shroud of monk like hoods, darkness and smoke, before The Unveiling opened things up.
With a sea of blood red lightning bathing the stage, The Chosen Legacy amped the intensity both on and off stage. “Are you alive Melbourne, are you alive…” bellowed frontman Shagrath before acknowledging their 25 year anniversary, with he and guitarist Silenoz being the only two original members who remain. I Am Sovereign another new track, gave the crowd another symphonic black metal overload. With the sound mix allowing the more intricate parts of their song arrangements to shine through, led by keyboardist Gerlioz, who incidentally slayed the keys all night.
Not sure if it was the fact this gig was a slight anti climax being the one before the sold out show, or perhaps the hardcore Dimmu fans were still in awe at seeing the band return to our shores, but the overall vibe of the show was a bit more more mellow than at least I anticipated. But if any song was going to change this, it would be the punishing Indoctrination, and that it did, with a wretchid Galder on guitar ruling the stage during this one.
Whilst new songs dominated the set, it wasn’t all new, with the band going back to 1999 with The Insight & The Catharsis, a rarity for the Dimmu faithful. The encore of Progenies of the Great Apocalypse and Mourning Palace delivered their final offerings amongst a sea of devil horns.
Don’t let my earlier comment about the overall vibe take away from the fact that the performance and delivery of Dimmu proved every bit why after 25 years, these Norwegians are still considered pioneers of the black metal scene.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by SAS75 Photography
DIMMU BORGIR performing at:
October 19th – Brisbane, Eatons Hill
Tickets: http://soundworksdirect.eventbrite.com / www.oztix.com.au
October 21st – Sydney, The Metro
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au
