Since you are fond of a particular music style and for the thrilling feeling of playing an instrument you decide to start to make your own music. It is there to be shaped by your creative energies, to channel your emotions, you can be part of something bigger. With likeminded people, you start a band and begin to rehearse. Simply covering songs starts to be too easy, you want to make them different or more brutal. Also you come up with your own ideas and fit them to your music. On a louse four track recorder you record your rehearsals and perhaps even your first demo tape. Fueled by the enthusiasm of your environment you are inspired to make your first album, filled with your own ideas and creations. The debut is well received by the audience and you are happy to make a second album, selling even better than the first one. On the third album a new formula is brewed� the unimaginable happens, the whole world seems to like your musical creations! The work in the factory, needed to finance your albums, is no longer necessary. Your future is bright, you do not need to innovate your music anymore, no creativity is needed anymore, just release an album once in a while and your money worries are over!

The Norwegian Dimmu Borgir was formed in 1993. Remaining members of that era are Shagrath (vocals) and Silenoz (guitars, vocals). Since 1998 Mustis joined in to handle the keyboards. After that, Dimmu Borgir became an all-star band including ICS Vortex (bass, clean vocals) from Arcturus and Borknagar and Galder (guitars) from Old Mans Child. The notorious Hellhammer (drums) joined in since 2005, replacing Nick Barker (former Cradle of Filth drummer).

Dimmu Borgir is continuing in the same way since they produced their fourth album Spiritual Black Dimensions in 1999. In Sorte Diaboli is already their seventh album (or the eight one, counting the horrible make-over of Stormbl�st in 2005), which means they make about the same music the last four albums. Mainly based on their commercial success, Dimmu Borgirs trademark is overproduced melodic and symphonic extreme metal. Total uninspired pop-black metal, without any emotional (hateful, powerful) feeling.

The (none so surprising) best part of the album is Helhammers drumming. Though the over triggered bass drums are monotonous and boring, this living drum machine keeps surprising me of his exceptional skills. The guitar riffs sound somewhat bombastic aren�t too interesting. Silenoz and Galder both handle guitars, perhaps to create a stronger sound. They do not have exceptional skills, but their guitar play is overall good enough. The album lacks guitar solos. Shagraths screaming vocals and the evil spoken parts are as usual. The spare high clean vocal parts of Vortex are interesting moments (as usual). Also as usual, the music is specked with orchestral keyboard parts. Some (like the albums introduction) sound like Warcraft battle music and others like horror movie themes. Adding to the atmosphere are some male and female choirs, creating an apocalyptic feeling. Sadly, the time that I was impressed by Dimmu Borgir is long gone. I respect the band for being able to make a living from their music (at least, I think so), but I recommend them to quit this boring copy-pasting and do something interesting instead.