Customer Reviews

Stormblast MMV [Bonus DVD]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let me start this out by saying that I have owned the original "Stormblast" for many years now and am incredibly familiar with it. Not only am I familiar with it, but it is my favorite Dimmu Borgir recording. I just love the raw production and the haunting synths. With all of that said, I didn't much expect this re-recording to surpass the original, and it didn't, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a great package for any Dimmu Borgir fan. Here you get an updated version of the classic album. It's really neat to listen to the updated version considering the fact that the production is much better and you'll pick up on melodies that you had no idea were there. Everybody is in top-knotch form. Shagrath screeches from the heart, and Hellhammer is behind the drum kit, so you know there can be no wrong with the drumming. Also included with this package is updated artwork, as well as many old photos of the band. These photos look as if they were taken a long time ago when they were still wielding swords. You also get a DVD of a live concert. There are only a handful of songs and most of them are quite recent, but it is a nice little bonus. All in all, this is a very worthy purchase if you are either a fan of the band or haven't heard the original "Stormblast".

I remember hearing the original 'Stormblast', and while I thought it was probably Dimmu Borgir's defining statement as a band, I thought it could have been so much better with a proper production. Well, now we have it. This version doesn't just refine the original, it surpasses it. The keyboards are vast and chilling, Shagrath's vocals sound great, and the music itself represents Dimmu Borgir at their songwriting peak, which was lost in the suffocating, haphazard arrangements that were their last three albums. The only gripes I have (and they are minor) are that the lovely keyboard intro to 'Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen' was replaced by the sounds of a rainstorm, and 'Sorgens Kammer' was reworked into a song with vocals (go to wikipedia.com, look up Dimmu Borgir, and they explain why they did this when you look at the album summary for the original 'Stormblast'). But, all that aside, this is probably the best album Dimmu Borgir have done in years, even if it is a reworking of older material. Highly recommended.

I'm not the first person to say that re-recording an undisputed classic album is a risky move, especially when nearly every fan states that this album was the apex of the band. (But kudos to the gentlemen for having a legitimate reason to do this, not just as money-making tool.) Fortunately, Shagrath and Silenoz had their heads on straight when this idea ran amok inside their heads. The re-recording of this album doesn't seem forced or rushed in any way, and in my humble opinion, it came off far better than I ever expected.

I'll start with the positive. Obviously, the production is much thicker, and the sound is huge and epic. The guitars cut, the drums pack a walloping punch, and the synths add a nice background touch. Shagrath's vocals are different here, but work perfectly. (Is it me, or does he sound more black metal than ever here?)Moments when the original album seemed to drag are now gone and have been replaced by adequately speeding up the tempo. Much of the CD seems more active than before, and there is not a lick of hum-drum plodding to be found. Hey, some of the songs have even been partially re-written, or the guitars have many hidden melodies to be found. Overall, it seems deeper than the original.

But alas, there are some downfalls as well. Many of the original keyboard and piano parts composed by DB's former keyboardist are now gone. (Many people are angry over the omission of the intro for "Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen", which now consists of a few seconds of rain sounds.) The atmosphere is still here, and even a few things have been added, such as the choir on "Dodsferd". Some of Hellhammer's drum parts are too dazzling for their own good, though I was surprised that he actually decided to stick to the songs rather than make everything a total wankfest.

However, the good outweighs the bad. My personal favorite from the original Stormblast, "Vinder Fra En Ensom Grav" is now beyond what I dreamt it would be. This recording still oozes with emotion and atmosphere. The classic title track is now more melodic, and the more plodding moments of the album have been filled with beautiful melodic guitar solos that were amiss on the original. "Da Den Kristne Satte Livet Till" is now the black metal anthem that it strived to be, and "Gud's Fortalepse- Apenbaring ov Dommedag" has turned into the melodic yet apocalyptic frenzy which it was meant to be. All of the other tracks are beautiful and will exceed any naysayer's premonitions.

The new tracks are pretty good as well. "Avmaktslave" explodes with bombastic choirs and flurrying tremolo picking, and wouldn't have sounded out of place on the band's debut album. "Sorgens Kammer- Del II" is one of the most eerie things DB has done. Clean guitars resonate throughout the song, and guve a feeling of dread and paranoia. Even though the song is simplistic and quite repetitive, the atmosphere is so terrifying that you won't notice. Shagrath's venomous and distorted vocals sound the most evil they ever have in all his years, and the sound effects in the background make the song seem very vivid and real.

Overall, I think this is one of the band's greatest acheivements, albeit a ballsy one. Diehards will dismiss the clean production and speed, but for those who wanted something more out of the original, this is your chance to witness one of the greatest BM albums of the 90's the way it was meant to be.

The re-recording of Dimmu Borgir's second album Stormblast is on the whole quite good. The drums sound great as well as the vocals. The production is crisp and the guitars are very prominent and heavy in the mix. I could have had a bit more keyboard though. My biggest gripe with the album is that they cut out the beautiful introduction to 'Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen'. The two new tracks are both good but by no means spectacular. The one thing this release does not convey that the original did was atmosphere. The original release was gushing with mood and atmosphere while the production on this release almost erases that quality. Thus this release is by no means a replacement of the original, only a compliment. Still judged on its own terms its quite good, excellent even. In fact even though I prefer the original I find that I listen to this version more often. The bonus DVD is also quite excellent, the quality being noticeably better than their 'World Misanthropy' DVD. The performance was good and the sound excellent. Even the track selection was good (would have liked something from SBD though... Reptile perhaps?). Overall this is a worthwhile purchase for any Dimmu fan though not an album I would recommend for first time listeners. For those it is best to aquire Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Spiritual Black Dimensions, Stormblast (1996) and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropy before proceeding to this release.

This was my second Dimmu album, after the rather stale Death Cult, and will likely remain my favorite. The songs are fast, intricate, and made complete with beautiful nuances absent on the first recording. Hellhammer's drumming is super-precise, and the mixing of the record is perfect. The original songs are much slower and simpler, sounding much more like demo versions of 2005's finished product. The title track is an epic masterpiece with its haunting outro and crystalline choruses textured with archaic cleans. Even the new song, Avmaktslave, is an excellent piece of songwriting and sits flush with the rest of the album, conveying a mood like a final, desperate battle.

I hope whoever hears this album will not place it on the juvenile blackmetalometer, and judge it strictly as it should be judged - on its boundless musical value.

Quite a brave feat, to re-record an old album. Why not let sleeping demons lie? I think to go back into the old catalog and attempt to re-record a work from the past takes balls of hellfire, not only in putting your reputation on the line for the fans (who would challenge any dipping back into the cauldron) but also for the band, who, as the liner notes indicate, cannot look upon their work dispassionately. Stormblast was a good choice to revisit, For All Tid was too ethereal, not yet fully formed, and after Stormblast, the sound and composition style changed, so, Stormblast makes perfect sense to go back and "redux". The cache of Hellhammer certainly isn't hurting, nor is the continuing groundswell of American acceptance of this Norwegian Black Metal band. What I would recommend, if a new album is not on the horizon, is that an album of covers would certainly be interesting to the fans, and not just the Bathory covers that are essentially statements of purpose in the Black Metal pantheon, but maybe some of those shameful pleasure dumbass songs you can't help but like the groove of. I'd love to hear the Shagrath/Silenoz treatment of a New Order tune.

i was blown away when i listen to this album for the first time. the melodies are just astounding. every song on this album stands out. now i know people say this album isn't as good as the original. i think this album is just as good if not better. while the original had the emotion, this one has that and the clearity. i'm not sure if that makes them less "black metal" because its clearer on the re-recording but i could care less. in my eyes theres only good music and bad music.

As if Dimmu Borgir could not possibly get any better....They return from the Abyss (studio) with a TERRIFIC masterpiece of Re-make of their second album "Stormblast". With a truely ALL STAR LINE-UP featuring the absolutely AMAZING Hellhammer (MAYHEM,ARCTURUS) on drums!!!Old fans and new alike will appreciate this album from beginning to end. The album recording and engineering is absolutely CRYSTAl clear versus the original low buget sound on the original release. With the same lineup as the last 2 releases (with the exception of Hellhammer) You already know You are getting top of the line musicianship from the the start. As some of You new Fans may have noted by the song titles this album is NOT in English like the previous ones (with the exception of "FOR ALL TID" and the original "Stormblast") but don't let that bother You or sway You away from buying this release. Just like the original release Shagrath handles all the lead vocals with plenty of anger and is probably some of His BEST vocals to date!!!Fans of Vortex's clean vocals need not worry He can be heard doing backup harmonies mixed in with Mustis's TERRIFIC classical Keyboard sounds. Vortex does an oustanding job on playing Bass on this album and can be heard doing alot of technical work to match the almighty Hellhammer's drum work through the entire album. Silenoz returns again providing the Band with His Super Heavy guitar sound and incredibly technical guitar work. There are so many rhythm changes on this album You find it hard to believe the Band can play all this without getting lost and makes Me think back to Iron Maiden's classic days of Epic records and genius song writing (ie;"Piece Of Mind" and "Powerslave").Still not sold on this album yet? check out track #8 "Antikrist" for a perfect example of what I mean. But wait there's more!!!....Along with this awsome CD You also get a BONUS DVD that totaly rocks and proves these guys are oustanding musicians on stage as well as in the studio and You also get on the American release 2 Bonus tracks that perfectly matched and blend in with the albums theme and sound!!!Not to mention a limited addition patch for You Dimmu collectors and a promo poster!!Try and find a deal like this with most other bands. You simply can't go wrong with the NEW release of "STORMBLAST".If You like Your Black Metal Medieval,Cold,Dark, and Frosty then don't hesitate.This is truely a fantastic release by a VERY talented group of musician's while We wait for their next studio album (which will also feature this line-up on a permanent basis). If You enjoy this album I urge You to check out Dimmu's other releases as well (ie: "Spiritual Black Dimensions", "P.E.M.","DEATH CULT ARMAGEDDON",and "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant".From the Band that introduced America to the Icelandic word for Dark Castle (Dimmu Borgir) comes another truely perfect Metal album. HAIL DIMMU!!!!!!

This is my third Dimmu cd. I first got Euphoria, then Death Cult, and now this. While this is well produced, well played, and in some parts absolutely beautiful, it is also homogonized and generic. There is nothing dangerous or edgy about it. The best way I can describe this is by calling it "easy listening" Black Metal. It doesnt have all of the pompus self important keyboard cheesieness of the other two Dimmu cd's I own (which is good as I prefer guitar driven metal)but it also lacks a certain......evilness, I suppose, that I like with my Black Metal.

Yes!! i said it!!! im a fan of dimmu borgir!!! go forbid i like mayhem and burzum and also dimmu borgir...damn elitists...shut the hell up...black metal is black metal...This album really uped my respect for Dimmu Borgir...to re-record a classic album AND to make it, i say, better. the production is good, the music is very tasteful, AND Hellhammer is drumming...what else do you want?