Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra review
| Band: | Dimmu Borgir |
| Album: | Abrahadabra |
| Style: | Symphonic black metal |
| Release date: | September 24, 2010 |
| A review by: | Daniell |
01. Xibir
02. Born Treacherous
03. Gateways
04. Chess With The Abyss
05. Dimmu Borgir
06. Ritualist
07. The Demiurge Molecule
08. A Jewel Traced Through Coal
09. Renewal
10. Endings And Continuations
11. Gateways [Orchestral version] [Limited Edition/iTunes bonus]
12. The Demiurge Molecule [Orchestral version] [iTunes bonus]
13. Dimmu Borgir [Orchestral version] [bonus]
14. Perfect Strangers [Deep Purple cover] [Hot Topic bonus]
15. D.M.D.R. [GGFH cover] [Hot Topic bonus]
+ Gateways [video] [Digipak/Hot Topic bonus]
Dimmu Borgir sucks. Dimmu Borgir are sellouts. Dimmu Borgir have a stupid image and idiotic videos. Dimmu Borgir kick members out with no explanation. Dimmu Borgir is only about squeezing cash from stupid kids who are naive enough to buy their albums. They suck, they suck, they suck!
If you believe that any of the above statements are true, you may as well stop reading now. This review will not take into consideration anything other than music. In other words, if you expect a biased review aimed against one of the most popular extreme bands, you'll be better off helping your father cut the lawn or doing dishes for your mum, because you won't find what you're looking for here.
I don't know about you, but I got fooled by Shagrath and his cronies. When I listened to “Gateways,” the first single from Abrahadabra, I was appalled. It seemed strange, to say the least. You may easily guess that I wasn't exactly dying to hear Abrahadabra. I expected more songs like “Gateways,” but I didn't get any more. What I got was a solid piece of extreme music with an abundance of good arrangements and embellishments which make for a satisfying listen. Even “Gateways” grew on me, because it indeed is a good song.
From epic and lightning fast “Born Treacherous,” through incredibly catchy “Gateways,” till grandiose “Endings and Continuations,” this time Dimmu Borgir delivers. Their style hasn't changed that much, but their old ideas mixed with a few new things make for a very convincing whole. If you want good old blasting, go for the aforementioned “Born Treacherous” or “Ritualist.” If you are fond of orchestrations and epic scope of songs, listen to “Endings and Continuations” or “Chess With the Abyss.” If you're keen on slower tempos and some decent guitar solos, “Dimmu Borgir” and “Renewal” are for you. Yes, guitar solos, played with talent and knowledge, flawlessly blending into the songs. Variety is the spice of life they say. Variety is what you will find here. An occasional intro, bass interlude, female vocals, they're all cherries on top of this unexpectedly tasty cake.
I've always thought that the marriage of extreme metal with mainstream must end in tears. Thornography or Cold Lake prove me right, but Abrahadabra proves me wrong. While undoubtedly accessible and easy to digest, it simultaneously retains a necessary dose of aggression, speed and heaviness. In their own words:
Be the broken or the breaker
Be the giver or the undertaker
Unlock and open the door
Be the healer or the breaker
The keys are in your hands
Realize you are the source of all created
Of your own master plan
Dimmu Borgir might have gone astray on some of their recent albums, but now I'm sure they found their own master plan. The door is wide open, and the sky is the limit.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
 | Written on 23.09.2010 by Writes overly honest and totally subjective reviews when fancy strikes him. Which is not often. Which is probably good, all things considered. |
Rating:
6.0
6.0
|
Rating: 6.0 |
If you like Abrahadabra by Dimmu Borgir you can make two great mistakes like I did. Let me warn you! The first thing is listening to classical music like Mozart or Haydn. It won't take more than a single stroke to realize that all the so-called great orchestrations are simply nothing in comparison to the dead composers. The second big fail is listening to real and raw black metal. To quote the famous snake, if you do something of that, "your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." This album is neither anything of black metal nor of classical compositions. Read more ›› |
Rating:
7.8
7.8
|
Rating: 7.8 |
Mustis has departed, and no ICS Vortex clean vocals for the first time since 1999. Can Dimmu Borgir escape from the massive attack of the fans this time? Traditionally, the album starts with an instrumental piece; however, except for some seconds, it is not appealing at all and far away from masterpieces like "Fear And Wonder", "Perfection Or Vanity" or even "Det Nye Riket". Read more ›› |
Comments page 4 / 5
| marzepka87 Posts: 68 |
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| RavenKing Posts: 1941  |
Written by marzepka87 on 27.09.2010 at 03:53 My metal horizon is broad enough for my tastes. After more than 25 years of listening to metal, let's say I checked pretty much every genre already long ago. I just happen to know my tastes very well, and what I can enjoy or not enjoy. I'm not one of those who believe we should be able to enjoy every genre or subgenre, especially as some are quite opposite to others, so I think what makes you like a genre can very well make you dislike another genre. Also, I think it's possible to be original and great with only bass, guitars, drums and vocals. A talented metal band doesn't need to incorporate other stuff to be great.
---- They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end But everybody's only looking out for themselves And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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| Elyar S. Gud är Död Posts: 323  |
Haha, so I have to put my most loved doom metal album (Turn Loose the Swans) in the trash. Because 2 songs in that album has not guitar nor drums nor bass.
---- Kiss my ass if you dont like me, I dont care.
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| RavenKing Posts: 1941 |
Written by Elyar S. on 27.09.2010 at 04:10 I didn't say metal bands can't be great if they use other stuff. I only said they CAN be great without using it. Do we really have to explain everything like we're doing for young children?
---- They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end But everybody's only looking out for themselves And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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| marzepka87 Posts: 68 |
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| d3th_n1gG4 Posts: 1  |
I will admit i was worried as well but after my first listen last night I was blown away, find it more rooted in the kind of avant garde extreme that SepticFlesh was doing pre sumerian demons, but hell that's what got me into extrmeme metal in the first place, so all in all i find it a good solid album with some really interesting arrangements in it
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| Itoc Trønder Posts: 70  |
"Variety is what you will find here. An occasional intro, bass interlude, female vocals, they're all cherries on top of this unexpectedly tasty cake." Haha, wonderful words.
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| Paradox0 Unasuming Madnes Posts: 592 |
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| fjms Posts: 1  |
Well, personally, i don´t agree with the review! I have listened the whole album, and to be honest this latest album of Dimmu Borgir sounds to me like you are listening a Immortal´s album! Pretty much old school!!! It´s not a bad album, but it misses at all the Symphonic Dark/Sick environment, the progressive/power/trash riffs of lastest albums! "Gateways" song is a minor sample of others songs that you can find the Albums like "In Sorti...", "Death Cult...." and "Puritanical..." The latest albums are so much powerful!!! But this is only me!!!
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| Elyar S. Gud är Död Posts: 323 |
Written by fjms on 28.09.2010 at 21:03 first of all plz READ the review then start whining. 8 for this album by the reviewer and I guess youve just read the first Paragraph! Quote: well then I have to say listen to the album as well , Immortal? piss myself laughing.
---- Kiss my ass if you dont like me, I dont care.
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| farfaramir Posts: 128  |
Written by fjms on 28.09.2010 at 21:03 You must have download the fake version... Which is not the real album... It's not even Dimmu  .
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| Vonpire Posts: 471  |
Buhahahaha, OMG i can't believe fjms comment. You (bad) pirate! 
---- Beware the Shadows of Dusk
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| Nerevarine Posts: 29 |
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| trendkill- Posts: 51  |
Written by fjms on 28.09.2010 at 21:03 now why would you dis immortal like that sir?
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6117  |
He isn't dissing them, he just downloaded a fake version of the album 
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| Kamilbolt Account deleted |
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| s_t_s Posts: 1208  |
Hmm odd I could swear I had already posted some comment... Nervermind : when I first listened to Gateways, I was REALLY disappointed ! When I listened to the full album, the first time I was a bit lost. Now I just cannot stop listenning to it, it's just so freaking great !!! I don't know where the 80 people choir (announced earlier) has gone, but it's not in the album. Instead we have great solos, slow and fast tracks, and a great inspiration ! I still think that Gateways is an intruder here, it doesn't fit the album atmosphere and it's not up to the quality of the other tracks.
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| Kamilbolt Account deleted |
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| vezzy Stallmanite Posts: 3493  |
Written by [user id=29268] on 04.10.2010 at 00:05 A Greek band called The Eternal Suffering, from their album Miasma.
---- Licensed under the GPLv3. Relinquish proprietary software for a greater GNU/America.
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| Kamilbolt Account deleted |
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| Ziom Posts: 640 |
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6117 |
And their image, obviously, affects their music in a very very negative way... *end sarcasm*
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Cradle looking cool that's a first they look just as ridiculous as Dimmu Borgir.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Daniell _爱情_ Elite Posts: 6117 |
Or even more I don't really care about appearances, as long as the music is good. Unless a band's image is repulsive, disgusting or the like,
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| Slayer666 Posts: 2466  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.10.2010 at 14:27 Oh, please, it's more than obvious you have no fashion sense...
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| vezzy Stallmanite Posts: 3493 |
That's kind of it, really. Fashion is rather pointless to me anyway.
---- Licensed under the GPLv3. Relinquish proprietary software for a greater GNU/America.
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| Trojanman190 Posts: 27 |
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| .Nemesis. Posts: 79  |
I loved Ritualist! All the other songs were great but not as good as Ritualist.
---- You try to awaken me, the flesh dripping with blood My body is there, but my soul a perilous void Aethereal existence coming off in ambient waves I am nothing. I AM N1H1L.
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| Netherlander Account deleted |
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| vezzy Stallmanite Posts: 3493 |
Written by [user id=35612] on 23.11.2010 at 11:43 Now that's unorthodox.
---- Licensed under the GPLv3. Relinquish proprietary software for a greater GNU/America.
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