Interdimensional Summit

Every once in a while, there comes a band, an album or a song I encounter in my daily exploration of metal and other forms of music, which forces my hand to rate it lower than anything I've rated before. Not a scenario I look up to, but sometimes it's just inevitable. In particular, when you have some expectations, however humble, but the listening experience in question leaves you wishing you had just not given a fuck in the first place. I remember discovering Enthrone Darkness Triumphant at the turn of the century, which made me take interest in the band. Their first couple of releases weren’t that impressive to me, as I had already experienced superior Norwegian black metal in the form of Emperor, Darkthrone, Immortal, Satyricon and Mayhem by then, but I enjoyed their more symphonic, clearly produced quality run starting with their 1997 release all the way to the 2005 re-recording of Stormblåst (which I find vastly superior to the '96 version), which together with the more popular but charismatic Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia rank as their two top works to my ears.

But, it's been more than a decade now since they've released something even remotely worthwhile. With all the success they had, being such an established act, it just felt extremely awkward that they weren't putting material or touring much in that span. I honestly don't care much for the reasons behind that turmoil, and they've always been a band with a revolving door of members, but the fact that Shagrath is now the main keyboard player speaks volumes of the diminished form with which they now attempt a “glorious” return. While Shagrath is a capable multi-instrumentalist, and a good frontman, he is a major downgrade from Mustiis in the keys department. In any case, the keyboards here have been played by Geir Bratland, the orchestrations and chorus arranged by a regular contributor of the band since 2001, well-respected Norwegian composer Gaute Storås, but composed by Italian Francesco Ferrini, well known for his work with his main band, symphonic tech death mavens Fleshgod Apoclypse. Prolific Polish skin-basher Daray provides percussion, and even the influential Schola Cantrum Choir from Norway steps in with, well, choirs.

Sadly, such a vast number of tip top contributors can't help to make this even remotely worthy. Who cares if this is TRVE Norwegian black metal, symphonic Hollywood metal, blackened electronic Peruvian folk or whatnot. “Interdimensional Summit”, the first single of their soon-to-be-released tenth LP, Eonian, is an utterly vapid composition, that sounds like a pastiche of the cheesier moments of 21st century Nightwish, Therion and a dash of Ghost, mixed with the poppier Dimmu Borgir that took over the band’s direction starting with In Sorte Diaboli and accentuated with Abrahadabra. This tune has virtually no summits. It's too keyboard and symphonic oriented for its own good to be taken seriously or enjoyed, making Epica look kvlt in comparison. The guitars have a Ghost-ish simplicity that almost makes me wanna cry laughing, given how complete Galder is as a guitar player. His solo is the least bad aspect of the song, starting at the 3:35 mark (and the guy's funny to look at, in the video and live). That's why I'm more excited about a future Old Man's Child album than Eonian. Shagrath's vocals are ok I guess, nothing noteworthy there, but the added chamber chorus are again too annoying. Perhaps it is the fact that I've been desperately trying to get Therion's Beloved Antichrist, something that hasn't happened yet, and after multiple listens I've become immune to enjoying those type of chorus for the time being.

But the most disruptive element to this song success is its weird changes of sections. Are they trying to be… prog? Cool? Interesting? They achieve none of the above. Changes of pace, when done wrong, are a very potent detriment to song structure. That's the bane of many prog and technical bands, but when a mainstream sounding band attempts that, it's much, much worse. And here, they're just awful, starting with that calm breakdown at 1:28, when Shagrath starts a narration. Too soon into the tune, bro, too soon! Totally kills whatever build up the song had previously started. Then, at 2:26 the song resumes faster activity, but the change is totally laughable thank to those ridiculously sounding keyboards. At 2:52, the track changes again into the mid-paced bridge section, then the chorus section, then Galder's solo, then again the chorus and… it's over, thank Dio. The live rendition of "Puritanica" is cute, but they've released like 10 versions of it in other singles, Special Editions and whatnot. How about "Mourning Palace", or something more obscure or less used like "Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen"?

“Interdimensional Summit” is such a disappointment in so many ways. For the casual metal fan, I figure this track will end up entering one ear and leaving the other without much impact, and I can certainly imagine what it represents for older, more passionate Dimmu Borgir fans that where expecting a return to form after a 8-year hiatus and longer without releasing something memorable. I don't see many people being excited for Eonian, given how appalling this single and “Council of Wolves and Snakes” turned out. I can safely prophesize several reviews with less than 50% for that one. Perhaps fans of Ghost, or other 'metallic' pop acts might find some amusement here, but personally I've heard enough Dimmu Borgir for the time being. Unless Eonian turns out a major surprise, I think I'll skip that one.