Leaders of Symphonic Black Metal, Dimmu Borgir are often associated with epic arrangements, a bombastic sound, and sense of drama amidst their music that is impossible to ignore. Recognized largely by their core fanbase for albums such as 1997’s Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, 1999’s Spiritual Black Dimensions, and 2001’s Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, Dimmu Borgir are second to none in terms of what they offers in their respective corner of the Metal sphere.
Still keeping themselves busy in recent years, the last studio album put out by Dimmu Borgir was released in 2018 with Eonian. At the time, their first studio album in 8 long years, do not look now, but another 5 years have come and gone since then. A waiting game for fans yearning for more, reports emerged that the band were in fact working on a tenth album, but nothing has materialized just yet. That in mind, they have not forgotten their followers, and are set to release what they are calling Inspiratio Profanus on December 8, 2023 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Wondering what this might be? Well, it is the band’s first-ever covers album which compiles all the songs they have put their own spin on through the years. All renditions that true blue Dimmu Borgir fans may have caught here and there over the last two plus decades, the album is complete with 8 tracks, and spans all of the cover tunes they record from the early days up through 2010’s Abrahadabra.
With that, you get each of these covers put together in one neatly stitched package that is fresh with a new mastering. And in case you are unaware of some of the covers the band has done through the years, this is quite a special treat. What there is here is everything from covers of Venom’s “Black Metal” to Celtic Frost’s “Nocturnal Fear,” to a really cool take on Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers,” but also their ever-distinct, perfect performance of Twisted Sister’s “Burn In Hell.” Beyond this there are other interesting recordings which include, but are not limited to, Accept’s “Metal Heart” and Bathory’s “Satan My Master.”
If anything, Inspiratio Profanus offers a great hold over for fans until the band finally releases some new material. However, if you look deeper, it is actually a really fascinating glimpse into their history. Why? Because it shows you the broad range of influences that they truly have; from old school Black Metal to Classic Rock and traditional Heavy Metal. That is why this compilation is truly a must listen for Dimmu Borgir fans if only to remind them of the band’s diversity. Hence, Cryptic Rock gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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