Interdimensional Summit

I haven't written a review in a little while, so I figured I could conjure some motivation to do just that, of course. This is rather a short release by Dimmu, considering this is an EP record, and I don't normally write reviews on such releases (perhaps I should more often), I think this is the first time I have ever written a review that isn't considered to be a full-length record. This'll be a little different for me, but I do plan on being fair and critical, as I normally attempt at least. So, let's conclude with this introduction and move onward, how about it?

Now, this is going to be...slightly tricky for me to review because they're only two tracks on this release, but that's not the tricky part. The tricky part is, the damn release has a studio and a live song, both different songs, naturally. It would be rather odd to have the same song in different manners, if that's all the record had to offer, I mean.

Now, I think a lot of us know by now, Dimmu usually have their share of orchestral-based tracks, sometimes to the point where it's literally controlling the songs. Sometimes Dimmu doesn't even sound like Dimmu. It's like Dimmu are physically and musically possessed by their own musical ideas and it literally consumes the band and they just sound like a church choir or something in that range of explanation. Like, you might as well not even have your original line-up if you're going to be overthrown by pure choir-styled themes. It's hardly metal at all.

Now, I fully understand it's semi-strict for me to do track-by-track reviews, but considering they're only two whole songs on this record and played in an entirely different point-of-view, I think it could make the exception, in complete fairness. The first track on this record is entitled, "Interdimensional Summit", I'd say that's a pretty original-themed, entitled track. It sounds sinister and mysterious-like. The problem is, the musical construction is rather weak. It doesn't sound like much effort or thought was put into it. It reminds me of a joke track, a parody of the band themselves. You have a choir, which overly stands out and overstays it's welcome, giving the main vocalist (I hate having to spell his name) very little vocal play at all. He's basically the backing vocalist in this song, while the choir practically leads more than half the song, in it's own right. The main riffs and melodies in this song are probably one of my favourite things, but it's not anything to be excited about. It really has a slow, groovy, melodic atmosphere. In fact, to some extent, the entire music construction sounds like something out of a modern, live-action Disney film (excluding the main vocalist's vocals, of course).

For the final track of this release, which is entitled as "Puritania (live)", is basically a filler track. Like, are Dimmu even trying to take themselves seriously anymore? Their performance doesn't bring any form of energy, realistically. I guess after 25 years, plus 8 years of waiting for their upcoming, full-length record (Eonian, which comes out May 4th, 2018), they just seem to care a lot less than they used to. And I don't even think that album will bring any promise either (once it comes out, I mean). It's like the band just don't care anymore. And they haven't cared a whole lot in what kind of music they tend to release, especially in recent years. They're not exactly a "fan-favourite", even if they're from Norway. I think it's time for Dimmu to throw in the towel or just find a complete new line-up, except the vocalist, I can at least respect him since he literally is the band's image.

I'll probably review their new album once it comes out later in the year, but that doesn't mean I'll do it right away, it could take awhile before I even feel interested, especially at this rate. I just don't feel they're even trying to be creative anymore. The band have gotten really, really...and I mean REALLY lazy. Hell, their hit song from 2010, named "Gateways", really proves it. At best, it's decent...AT BEST!

I watched the band's music video, regarding "Interdimensional Summit", and this is a small section of what I had to criticize about the damn music video (on social media, in the comment section, Facebook), word-for-word, "Anyways, the guy on the guitar, the one smiling, he must have fucking loved eating neckbone as a kid, because his fucking neck is forcibly compressed to his shoulder and he's smiling uncontrollably, as if he has a bladder infection, like...relax buddy, it's just a semi-painful song, you know?". I thought that would be fairly appropriate to say, based on the very goofy performance by the one band member, everyone else who performed in the music video at least looked serious.

All-and-all... I really don't think this release brings anything special to the table and will just end up being your typical, everyday Dimmu Borgir, from now on. They're not learning to adapt and mature their sound. They're hopeless in creativity and picking the wrong structures to form anything bold. I wouldn't be too proud being them, especially now.