It’s always great when you can finally cross a bucket list band off your list and on Sunday August 23, 2026, I was finally able to cross Dimmu Borgir off my list. Let’s take a look…..
To say that I’ve been excited to see this band would be a huge understatement. I’m a bit late to the Dimmu game and when tickets went on sale, I immediately bought one. First let’s talk about the venue, The Novo In Downtown LA. The last time I was here was when I saw Anthrax, Testament, and Death Angel back in 2012 when it was called Club Nokia. Now the band Hypocrisy was supposed to open the show but sadly couldn’t make it so instead, the band Hulder opened. Hulder is a black metal band from North America and I have to say, they were pretty solid. The best way I would describe their sound is very traditional black metal with a touch of atmospheric. It’s very interesting and cool.
Time for the main event……..Dimmu Borgir. As I said, it’s been a number of years since they played in LA and you definitely felt the excitement in the venue as the crew was setting up. Once the lights dimmed and the introduction music started, everyone started cheering. Once the band took the stage, they went right into Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel off of their latest album Grand Serpent Rising and without pausing, followed that up with Mourning Place off Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. I’ve seen a good amount of extreme metal bands, and they were definitely one of the best sounding. Of course they had to play their hits and singles like Gateways and Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse. Frontman Shagrath definitely had the crowd going and he absolutely sounded great.
Dimmu Borgir are one of those bands that sounds great both live and on album and some of these songs, were hard to tell. Now when it comes to who else was in the band, you also have Silenoz who is a very underrated guitar player. Would I have liked the classic lineup from the early 2000’s to have been there? Of course but the touring musicians they had were absolutely solid. You have Victor Brandt (Entombed/Entombed A.D.) on bass, you have drummer Daray (Vesania), Damage on guitar who played a really cool solo before “Stormblåst,” and keyboardist Gerlioz (formerly of Satyricon and Emperor). All of these guys made for one hell of a lineup and sounded absolutely badass.
According to Setlist.fm, the last time Dimmu played in LA was in 2008!! So yes they were more than past due for a show in LA!! My only real complaint is that they didn’t play longer but I’m glad I got to see them for the 1 1/2 hours because this was definitely worth the wait. I’m just sorry that I didn’t get into them a lot earlier because if you get the chance to see them definitely do not miss it!!
Final Grade: A+
Hulder is:
Hulder– Voice, guitars, synthesizers, woodwinds
Necreon– Bass, back up voice
Vapula – Live drums
Vrolok – Session/studio drums
Keld – Additional guitars, keys
Hulder played:
- A Beacon From Darkened Skies
- View From Nemeton
- Sylvan Awakening
- Verses in Oath
- Vessel of Suffering
- Drie Raven
- …And We Shall Sing
Dimmu Borgir is:
Shagrath- Voice
Silenoz- Guitar
Victor Brandt- Bass
Damage- Guitar
Daray- Drums
Gerlioz- Keys
Dimmu Borgir played:
- Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel
- Mourning Palace
- Kings of the Carnival Creation
- Drum Solo
- Council of Wolves and Snakes
- As Seen in the Unseen
- Ascent
- Guitar Solo
- Stormblåst
- Reptile
- The Insight and the Catharsis
- The Serpentine Offering
- Puritania
- Gateways
- Progenies of the Great Apocalypse
- Perfection or Vanity
Sinister Reviews 