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I like Ensiferum. Seriously, I do. But what the fuck is going on in their new video, “From Afar?” No one wanted to play their instrument? Or at least hold their instrument? Or even, y’know, move?
Maybe they just asked a former member of Dimmu Borgir to please pack their gear for them, and then he forgot. I bet that’s it. That has to be it. Right?
-AR
It’s Labor Day weekend here in the U.S., which means we’re shuttering the Mansion early this week, and won’t be back ’til Tuesday. We’re sure you’ll find some way to live without us.
Here’s some shit that happened this week:
Alright. I’m going to enjoy a little sunshine while I still can. See ya Tuesday!
-AR
Well, it was only a matter of time. The remaining members of Dimmu Borgir have lashed back at recently fired bassist/vocalist Vortex and keyboardist Mustis in a statement that, tonally at least, is actually very calm and even-handed (almost disappointingly so – at least from a humor standpoint). But it does make some pretty wild accusations about the behavior of at least one of these former band members.
Our friends at Metal Insider picked out these highlights, thus saving us the trouble:
Recently sacked Dimmu Borgir bassist/clean vocalist Vortex has weighed in on the split between the band, himself, and keyboardist Mustis. And I’m sure it will shock none of you to learn that he’s siding with Mustis.
SMN News reports that Mr. Vortex (real name: Ian Carter Simen Tourbillion) has posted the following message on his MySpace pagee:
So I’m sure you’re all aware of this major lineup change for Dimmu Borgir. I’ve been a fan of that band since ’98, and I’ve liked every single one of their records except For All Tid. My favorite lineup of theirs was the Puritanical and Deathcult lineup. For me as a fan, the music those dudes made together is what really sealed the deal for me with that band. I still enjoyed some later stuff, but for me those two records are where it’s at.
I’m sure they’ll find some amazing people and continue to put out great records, but the band that I became a fan of is now altered. And that got me thinking. How many times has this happened, and when does it really matter?
So in case ya didn’t hear, Dimmu Borgir fired their bassist/clean vocalist, ICS Vortex, and their keyboard player, Mustis, over the weekend. Well, I guess technically the band “parted ways” with those members, but by all accounts, it wasn’t a break-up reached by mutual decision.
To wit: Mustis briefly changed his MySpace status to “betrayed” before revealing this little nugget of information:
Our friends at Metal Insider found this two-year old phone call of an angry father scolding one “Mr. Borgir” – as in Dimmu – while his embarrassed son screams out complaints in the background.
I have no idea who the father was actually calling – does the Dimmu Borgir fan club have a 800 number or something? – and I highly doubt that this is real anyway. Regardless, it’s frickin’ hilarious, and I strongly suggest you give it a listen.
-AR
While Anthrax, Testament, Heaven and Hell and motherfucking Motorhead are among the most anticipated bands that metal pilgrims are converging on western Germany to see, it would appear that my favored people, those crafty Norwegians, also have a few things planned for the mayhem. While Enslaved will be appearing (and hopefully represented on a good stage, because you know they fucking deserve it) some others are teaming up with foreigners in combinations that are hard to ignore.
Another instance of someone with too much free time on his or her hands…
I don’t think this what black metal’s founders had in mind when they came up with the term “corpse paint.”
Thanks to MetalSucks Maniac David Massey for the tip!
-AR
I have to admit, the Shockhound series “Stella Can’t Cook,” in which Stella invites her rockstar friends into the kitchen to make a dish of their choice, is pretty entertaining. The episode featuring Marta from Bleeding Through was good enough, but the latest ep with Silenoz of Norwegian dark lords Dimmu Borgir is even better if for no other reason than his complete apathy and disinterest in the entire situation. Except when it comes to spicy mustard: “Regular mustard is for pussies.” Amen, Silenoz, a-fucking-men.
-VN
It was a crazy week at the MS Mansion. Vince passed out in the bathroom after a 48 hour coke binge only to be awakened by Axl, whom, after coming home that morning from a strip club with The Blogronaut and Dallas, was viciously attacked by a bunch of angry Hinder fans stalking him outside the MS Mansion gates. Actually, none of that happened. But here’s what did:
We’ll see you next week, albeit it’ll be an abbreviated one due to the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. Toodles.
This is why I love metal; we come in all shapes and sizes and just don’t give a fuck. This kid must have nuts the size of Texas.
-VN
[Thanks: J. Dolente]
Last night I heard the “new” Vader album, XXV, for the first time. In case you’re not hip to this release, it’s the Polish death metal masters’ 25th anniversary album, and is basically a greatest hits compilation – except that all the songs have been re-recorded with the band’s current line-up. Which, naturally, means that late drummer Krzysztof “Doc” Raczkowski appears nowhere on the album (or, at least, not in the audio content – I still don’t have a copy of the DVD which will accompany the disc’s release).
Of course, Vader aren’t the first band to embark upon such an endeavor. Living Colour, Twisted Sister, and even The Sex Pistols have all re-recorded some of their old songs for purpose of being able to license them without having to share the wealth with their former record labels, which is a brutal, and brutally honest, reason to re-visit your old catalogue. Dave Mustaine re-recorded “A Tout Le Monde” as a duet with Cristina Scabbia just last year; Anthrax re-recorded a bunch of old Joey Belladonna tunes with John Bush for their Greater of Two Evils* collection; hell, Dimmu Borgir re-recorded their entire album Stormblast because they were so unhappy with the original, and as I understand it, it’s only by the grace of God that we don’t have Appetite for Destruction 2000, featuring Axl Rose’s “revamped” GN’R in place of the original (although a half of a re-recorded “Sweet Child O’Mine” does roll over the closing credits of the Adam Sandler vehicle Big Daddy).
What, one has to wonder, is the point of re-recording all the band’s old songs?
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