Dimmu Borgir managed once again to produce a Norsecore album that falsely gets passed of as Black Metal. Dimmu Borgir should not even be called Metal as far as I’m concerned.

Before you hit the back button on your browser because you think I’m an idiot, I’ll explain what Norsecore is. Norsecore is yet another non-Metal bastard child to see the light of day. Defining Norsecore is very simple. Take 1 part European style Metal, which uses raspy vocal shrieks, originally used by the likes of Bathory and Minotaur, add Grindcore blast beat drum technique, like Mortician, stir well, out comes Norsecore.

Dimmu Borgir do have some cool riffs here and there, but for the most part they sound exactly like every band of the genre. Eerie keyboard passages are present on this album, like with so many of the other Norsecore bands out in today’s world. Every time the heavy guitar keeps me interested, they ruin it by adding blast beats that don’t seem to match the tempo of the other instruments.

Overall this album is very average, unless you’re a big fan. People that want to hear other heavy music besides metal might want to check it out, but fans of real Black Metal should pass.

© 2001 ramrod