Gateways

Here we have a promotional piece of material for the upcoming Dimmu Borgir album that, before even being released, had caused quite a fair bit of stir due to the departure of ICS Vortex and Mustis. This subsequently caused some discussion over just how Dimmu could continue without what some people considered to be the most important members. However, after just one listen I think it’s quite fair to say that Shagrath and the remaining members have actually progressed very well after the recent events.

Gateways seems to take quite a bit of influence from Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia if you’re looking to compare this track to past material and in itself has a very epic, orchestral sound. In place of ICS Vortex’s vocals Dimmu has opted here for female vocals instead that, after reading some discussions on the track seem to be creating quite polarised reactions, though from the perspective of myself they work quite well and fit with the overall direction Gateways takes.

Dimmu also make us of what they have done before in both Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon, and that is a mechanical sound with heavy symphonies played over the top. Perhaps in past efforts this hasn't been done in a manner that can fully achieve the intention, though with the much grander, richer sound that Dimmu have created on Gateways the combination seems to work much better.

If this track is anything to go by then this album will easily top their last three releases that were, in all fairness, pretty awful. Obviously Dimmu will still suffer from the knee-jerk torrents of hate from people who consider themselves above everyone else with their all-knowing selves intrinsically knowing this album to be awful, but if one can assess this track from an objective standpoint it’s very possible many people will find themselves enjoying what Gateways offers.