Ann reviews & reveals she’s in love with DIMMU BORGIR’S Abrahadabra

Posted on Nov 21, 2010 / Posted by Ann Allen /

I accepted the challenge of reviewing DIMMU BORGIR’S latest album, Abrahadabra for two reasons:

1. Because I was up for the challenge; and

2. Because I am my own boss and answer to myself and yes, whilst that kind of makes this entire statement redundant, let it be said; Abrahadabra has been a lesson for me in breaking down musical misconceptions and how perfectly a symphony orchestra, a choir and a few black leather clad, Norwegians can truly mesh well and sound together.

Not only that, it has as opened a whole new genre of music I’d only ever dipped my sparkly red-polished toe in, until now.

Today, I am here to talk about what I consider to be probably the best album – or at least in the top 3 best albums here at the KNOBROCK “bat cave” – for 2010.

I began my review routine by playing Abrahadabra, on the house stereo and quickly realised that this isn’t a background music album at all. So, I did something I haven’t done since QUEENSRYCHE’S Operation; Mindcrime was released and in my hot little then-16-year-old hand; I lay on my bed, turned out the lights and played Abrahadabra – or ‘Bra for short – from start to finish, through my headphones.

In my darkened bedroom I discovered the many, many layers of this – frankly – extraordinary and beautiful album. Yes, beautiful! Track after track of a myriad of sounds, voices, instruments, tempos, screams, growls and riffs, beating through my eardrums and sinking into the cracks of my long-bored penchant for original and truly ball-busting metal. Simply put, I was sonically wined, dined and pretty much taken ‘all the way’ with this album.

From the moment the intro, Xibur, began, I was swept up in the moody ambience. Unnerved, yet unshaken, by Xibur’s end, I felt giddy with anticipation. This track really demonstrates not only the quality of the production of ‘Bra, but how the orchestra and choir play as much a part in the composition and performance of the song, which translates beautifully throughout the entire album. These guys seriously know their shit.

“Their music is epic, thematic and symphonic already from the creation; they are clearly having an orchestral approach to composing. ~ Gaute Storaas, on working with Dimmu Borgir on Abrahadabra.

See? They know their shit.

Born Treacherous, kicks off the band itself and opens with one of the coolest bass sounds I’ve heard in ages. The blast beats, combined with the classical elements of this song are confronting, but the tempo changes and creative double-bass use in the last half of the track keep you guessing and always pleasantly surprised at where the song takes you.

The same is evident in Gateways, the impossibly likeable, Dimmu Borgir and one of my personal favourites, The Demiurge Molecule.

What I love about this album is it manages to keep its menacing grip on you, through to the end and despite this not being Dimmu’s first experience with orchestras, ‘Bra has a feel and sound that is totally unique to previous forays and essentially, it’s simply enormous! But, whilst it’s highly technical and polished, it also has an ‘organic’ feel to it, especially the orchestral elements and overall sound. It isn’t easy to produce an entire orchestra’s pristine sound, to be played back on somebody’s iPod, but DIMMU BORGIR have managed to nail that part of the production. If I were Metallica, I’d be throwing this album at a wall and saying, “God-damnit! This is what S&M should have sounded like!”

Ritualist and Renewal, the two more up-tempo tracks feature traces of old-school metal with a slightly ‘raw[er]’ sound, yet without negating the orchestral and choral dynamic. They also tend to showcase drummer, Dariusz Brzozowski’s, fabulous drum chops, which – out of all the drummers who have appeared on DIMMU BORGIR’S line-ups in recent years – I think best compliments Abrahadabra’s overall resonance, sound and arrangements.

Having said all that, I have saved the best for last. Endings and Continuations - my favourite track of the bunch – winds up this epic, darkened, metal journey in the most ambient and ritualistic way, with a fade out of chanting of the word, “abrahadabra,” which roughly translates to, “I create as I speak.” And speaking is what this album has done, to me.

In all the years I’ve maintained my love affair with heavy metal, very few albums have struck a chord as profoundly as this one and the only aspect of the Abrahadabra experience that is remotely disappointing is, the whole world won’t get to hear the perfect melding of two distinct types of music, cohabitating with such command, power and grace.

I think it’s impossible to define a band like this. With all the strongly opinionated folk out there, the fans, along with the naysayers, DIMMU BORGIR, remain a band hell-bent on ignoring trends and genres and creating music that is lasting and impressive and I have to give them major kudos for that. And when a peer says something like this…

“The band (Dimmu Borgir) worked so hard and were totally focused, which made everything go really smoothly and along with the fact that they are such cool guys to work with, it made the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable. Abrahadabra, is a fantastic piece of work and I’m so proud to have been a part of it.” ~ Russ Russell

… you just know that Dimmu Borgir’s Abrahadabra, is truly something special.

Abrahadabra, in one word; Sublime.

Catch Dimmu Borgir at Soundwave in 2011. For dates, visit www.soundwavefestival.com or www.dimmu-borgir.com

Rawk it! ~ Annie

Tags: dimmu borgir, knobrock, review, soundwave festival