Dimmu Borgir - Black Metal Band

Dimmu Borgir is a symphonic "blackened" metalcore band founded in 1993 by vocalist Shagrath and guitarist Silenoz. They have carefully crafted an image of being "evil". Being seen as "evil" is very important to Dimmu Burger, so don't question the fact that they are "evil" because they definitely are. Moving on.

Dimmu Borgir released their debut album For All Tid in 1995 and their sophomore Stormblåst in 1996. After that, they signed to Nu-clear blast and started releasing random three-word title albums such as: Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997), Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999), Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001), Death Cult Armageddon (2003), Victory Intolerance Mastery (2004) and In Sorte Diaboli (2007). They all suck terribly, and Dimmu Borgir became somewhat of a joke in the underground black metal scene. Shagrath in particular was mocked due to his admitted fascination with submissive BDSM and love of gothic rock bands like Evanescence, whose influences can clearly be heard on most if not all of the band's releases.

The band members have long had to contend with accusations that their music was "commercial shit", accusations later denied by Shagrath on the grounds that Dimmu Borgir wasn't shit because they "sold a lot of records".

Dimmu Borgir is sometimes labelled "NSBM" (National Socialist Black Metal) due the band's past signing with No Colours Records (who also released albums by Absurd, Graveland, Nargaroth and Satanic Warmaster), and to frontman Shagrath claiming that "black metal is for White people only" and that he would "gladly cut the throat of every black person in the world". Shragrath also professed his admiration for the work of Burzum and Phantom. Nevertheless, the NSBM appellation is heavily disputed in Dimmu Borgir's case.

So, is Dimmu Borgir racist? Is Dimmu Borgir evil? These are the sorts of questions that usually detrack from the band's music but are nonetheless answered more in depths in Real Satanic Black Metal, the heavy metal book by Antoine Grand about black metal in general, and Dimmu Borgir in particular.

Members of Dimmu Borgir

Here are all the known members of the band Dimmu Borgir, as well as their past collaborations.

• Vocalist: Shagrath
• Guitarist: Silenoz
• Bassist: Shagrath, Silenoz
• Drummer: Hellhammer
• Other Instruments: Shagrath (Keyboards)

There can be instances where past members of Dimmu Borgir have only played in one live show, EP, bootleg or demo recording, etc.