The first image of Dimmu Borgir’s new video, for the song “Gateways,” suggests that the viewer is about to experience something beautiful and maybe even unique to metal videos; then it just turns into another “band in a warehouse” video like a million other “band in a warehouse” videos, only, like, with a slo-mo dove and stuff. (By the way, it’s come to my attention that these videos are almost never filmed in warehouses — in fact, I don’t think the band is in a warehouse in this video. But I understand why people always think they’re looking at a warehouse… these locations do look kinda warehouse-y.) Not helping is that this song features one of the most annoying vocal performances I’ve ever heard (by the Goth(ier) Annie Lennox chick in the black), and that instead of dressing like Immortal, the members of Dimmu now dress like Marilyn Manson circa-Mechanical Animals – or, as reader Chainsword astutely observed, like tauntauns.

Dimmu Borgir’s new album, Snowy Doesn’t Love Here Anymore, comes out October 12 on Nuclear Blast, or September 24 if you live in Germany or have an internet connection.

-AR

So last week Snowy Shaw officially joined and then officially quit Dimmu Borgir, all within twenty-four hours. And now Shagrath says the band is going to remain a three-piece consisting of the “core” members of himself and guitarists Sneezy and Grumpy — uh, I mean, Silenoz and Galder — with some touring members so the band doesn’t just become the equivalent of a black metal karaoke band. That’s not the first time a band has made the decision to never hire a permanent replacement — metal and non-metal bands from The Rolling Stones to R.E.M. to Korn have all done it, presumably because a) they don’t think anyone else has anything to bring to the table creatively and b) it’s cheaper. It will be the first time I’ve ever heard of a co-lead vocalist being just a hired gun, though, so that will probably be kinda weird.

So while we wait to see which poor bastards are the new not-really members of Dimmu Borgir, we can listen to a new song, “Gateways,” with vocals by Snowy Shaw, and dream of what could have been — namely, a world in which there was a band features members named both “Silenoz” and “Snowy.”

At least, I assume that’s Snowy doing the clean vocals. Whomever that is at the 1:32 mark, he or she should be shot in the throat. Holy shit, that is the ugliest sound I have ever heard not coming from an overweight octogenarian. It’s like they hired an eunuch, and then made that eunuch inhale helium before singing. I imagine that what’s a cockroach sounds like when it sings. Luckily, some chick comes in at the end and doesn’t sound like a member of the cast of Joe’s Apartment.

Check out the song here.

-AR

Holy shit, this is hilarious.

Last month rumors started to circulate that Snowy Shaw was the new bass player and clean vocalist for Dimmu Borgir. I mean, really, they were barely rumors. Everyone knew it was true. Therion, Shaw’s previous band, even basically said as much in a press release.

Then, yesterday, Dimmu Borgir finally confirmed the so-called “rumor,” and even released photos of Snowy in his Dimmu Borgetup:

Call me cynical, but I assume that announcement was made now, a month after we all already knew what the deal was, to help promote Dimmu’s new single, “Gateways,” which went on sale via various digital retailers yesterday (it is not, as of this writing, streaming anywhere that I know of). I still haven’t heard the song, but I assume that it sounds an awful lot like Dimmu Borgir, only with Snowy Shaw singing instead of ICS Vortex.

Problem is, I just read that Snowy has now quit Dimmu and returned to Therion.

Click to read more…

So last week vocalist Snowy Shaw announced that he was quitting Therion, and then a rumor started that he was joining Dimmu Borgir as a replacement for ICS Vortex. And then yesterday Therion released their own statement regarding Shaw’s departure, and, well, honestly, I didn’t even bother reading it. Why? Because a) I’m not a Therion fan, b) I can’t take a dude who calls himself “Snowy” seriously, c) Snowy had already said he was leaving the band so whatever, and d) I’m an irresponsible elitist snob. For if I had read the press release, I might have seen what SMN did — that it all but confirms Shaw’s new gig as a Dimmu Borgirian. From the statement:

Click to read more…

So Dimmu Borgir have been slowly unveiling the cover art for their new album — which we now know will be titled Abrahadabra - and the full thing is finally available for your viewing pleasure. It was created by Joachim Luetke, who also did Kreator’s Enemy of God and Arch Enemy’s Nemesis (amongst other things), so… I guess he really likes making art around the concept of a fucked-up looking head/skull/noggin whatever. But, hey, everyone’s gotta have a trademark! And this still looks pretty freakin’ metal.

Nuclear Blast will release Abrahadabra Germany on September 24th, in the rest of Europe on September 27th, and in North America on October 12th. The rumor is that Snowy Shaw (no, that’s not his real name), who recently quit Therion, is taking ICS Vortex’s place; I never thought Dimmu Borgir would have a member named “Snowy,” but he’s a way stronger choice than the douche I heard had the offer, so, y’know. Swell!

-AR