Customer Reviews

Stormblast

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First of all I highly recommend that you hear the original version of Stormblast before listening to this album. This way you can truly appreciate what Shagrath and Silenoz have accomplished. That said, on to the review.

From the outset, "Alt lys er Svunnet Hen" gave me the chills. The overpowering intro will pull you in and not let you go for the duration of the album. For the most part the original composition of the songs was retained, which I was very happy about. "Sorgens Kammer" was the only song to be completely redone, which actually isn't a bad thing considering it was the only song on the original version that actually had good sound quality. There was really no way to improve upon it. There are other minor changes that the seasoned Dimmu listener will notice, but none of them for the worse. The new track "Avmaktslave" keeps the Stormblast feel alive, it does not sound out of place at all.

Overall a true masterpiece was created here. This new Stormblast not only retains the atmosphere of the original, but adds on a sound so epic and emotional you cannot help but be drawn in. Keep in mind this album is Dimmu Borgir circa 1995, you're not getting the next chapter to evolve from Death Cult Armageddon. This album was the predecessor to the immaculate Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, so you'll be getting an overall sound more comparable to that album. Frankly, I wouldn't mind if they did a re-do of For All Tid either. Talk about lousy production there.

The DVD from Ozzfest 2004 is a nice bonus, brought back some good memories. \m/

This album is beautiful in every way. The production is great. By this I don't mean that the sound quality is high - it is quite low. But I don't think the music would have benefitted from Puritanical style production; the analog quality definitely adds to the atmosphere. In contrast from most chaotic black metal bands, Stormblast is actually more soothing than anything else - a good evening listen, especially during rain. It is an album that can be listened to straight through, and that is the best kind.

Before Dimmu Borgir turned into cheesed out rock n roll song structured cliches, they released this seminal album of neo-classical influenced black metal. Each song is well written and is accompanied by melodic guitar riffs overidden by quite beautiful keyboards that are evident but unobtrusive. Drumming is of the technical type at times, but more on the snare which maintains a more death metal style of double-hit tension. Vocals are what you'd normally expect from a black metal band, shrieking, and monotonous but are not really so bad ... this album stands on its own and shines with artistic creativity and emotion.

The production may be awful, the guitars muffled, the drums weak, but there is something in Stormblast that I don't think any other Dimmu Borgir album has had: a touch of genius. This is definitely a very inspired release, with original and riveting melodies, well-measured synth/guitar-work ratio, and a chillingly realistic atmosphere. The atmospheric piano passages are marvellous. My favorite song must be the opening track. I recommend it much more than the last two LP releases and even above Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, though the latter is another album you should definitely check out. Personally, I thought that after Stormblast, Dimmu lost momentum and could have turned out much more substantial pieces, instead of just creating catchy albums with too jumbled instruments and quite cheesy melody and riffs, as Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia appears to me.

Despite Dimmu Borgir's new "melodic" material,Stormblast is and will always be a classic and amazing album!

This cd is the best Dimmu Borgir cd they have released, I managed to get a hold of the original too :). This is great melodic norwegian black metal, although the production is not too great (especially compared to that of PEM). The album is sung in all in thier 'mother-tongue' which creates more of a darker atmosphere. And #4 is a entire song all in piano that almost in some parts make you want to cry with the sheer beauty. My personal favourite is "Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen." The only thing bad about this album is...no guitar solos. But the song writing, etc. more than make up for it. If you get the chance buy this awesome album.

This is my favorite Dimmu album, which really isn't saying much in perspective, but I do like it. As for my black metal fix, I'm preferential to Agathodaimon, Burzum, Dark Funeral, Emperor, Immortal, Satyricon, and the like rather than Dimmu and COF. But this album seems to fit into the category I like. It's supposedly pretty vicious lyrically, but I don't understand Norwegian so they could be talking about golden showers for all I know. I don't care either. I'm interested in their fine musical compositions, which mix perfectly-executed keyboards with roaring guitars and strong percussion, as well as Shagrath's trademark vocal style. It is a very cold album; maybe not cold in that evil way that Emperor is, but in a more bleak, empty way like Agalloch. Definitely a must-have for people interested in good metal. So what if the production is horrid.

This is one of my favorite Dimmu Borgir albums, and one I can listen to from end to end.

When I listen to this album, it reminds me how great Black Metal can be. The music on Stormblast is absolutely amazing. Stormblast is a dark and chilling adventure into the world of Norway's Extreme Metal Scene. I believe the original release date was 1996. This album DOES NOT need to be remastered or altered in any way. The production is perfect for picture Dimmu is painting. Stormblast starts out with Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen. What a great Intro to start one of the coldest sounding albums of all time. An Erie piano Intro with keyboards in the background that is just perfect. The album is completely done in their native language. Stormblast is much different from later releases being that, it's colder and more ruff than symphonic. Stormblast has a slower and more evil sound and doesn't have clean vocals like later releases. I wish they would have never recruited Vortex. He is the reason they implemented clean vocals. They still have their epic sound but not nearly as clean as today. While it has plenty of great keyboards and piano, they are not as dominating as lets say; Spiritual Black Dimensions, etc. Sorgens Kammer is Dimmu's best Instrumental track of all time and 6 minutes long. You have to kick back and just take this track in. It's truly depressing. A must own album for all Metal Fans!

stormblast was the first album i bought by DB, and it has always been my favourite. the vocals range from the typical growling of the black metal genre to dark chanting as if reciting a mantra (on some of the verses in "broderskapets ring"). the keyboards also grace the album very well, providing a haunting melody throughout most of the songs. recently i've aquired the lyrics to the album translated into english (if you want them go to the DB official site and search the forum) and now knowing everything said on the album it makes it that much more evil and dark. i love it! if you dont have this release yet, buy it now!