Dimmu Borgir are taking their extremity to the top. As the Norwegian black-metal masters brace us for the release of their forthcoming Grand Serpent Rising album later this spring, they’ve now unleashed a peak-brutal preview from the record, the aptly-titled “Ascent.”
The song marks the second tease behind Grand Serpent Rising, following last month’s “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel,” and it had been previewed earlier in the week via footage of the band going absolutely madhouse through a series of blackened blasts and razorwire metal trills. Shagrath, gauntleted-up and primed to destroy, stares the camera straight in the eye before delivering his terror-screech.
You can experience the intensity in full up above, via the music video drop from director Patric Ullaleus.
Thematically, guitarist Silenoz notes that the song is “a voyage of transformation and surrender,” and reflects the experience of the record’s titular slitherer “rising through your spinal cord.”
He adds: “It is not a pretty experience but it is a necessary one – in order to reach higher consciousness and levels of understanding.”
The song hits more manic bPms than “Ulvgjeld & Blodsødel,” and rams through fierce and fiery guitar solo work and creep-mode chamber synths. Between the two singles, vocalist Shagroth says that the band are setting up how this may well be the “our most diverse records to date.”
“Musically, ‘Ascent’ is more ferocious and direct than the first single, ‘Ulvgjeld & Blodsødel.’ Together, the two tracks showcase the musical scope of the album in a great way,” he said.
As previously reported, Grand Serpent Rising is Dimmu Borgir’s first album in 8 years. It’s said to deliver “brutality with striking diversity and symbolic themes of renewal, growth, and transformation.” It was recorded with Fredrik Nordström (At the Gates, Arch Enemy) at the producer’s Studio Fredman in Sweden.
Grand Serpent Rising is out May 22nd through Nuclear Blast, though an exclusive pre-order for the LP on “Gold with Black Marbled” vinyl is up for sale in Revolver’s shop, along with other vinyl variants and CD copies of the album.
Dimmu Borgir also recently announced their first North American tour since 2018. That begins August 7th at NYC’s Palladium Times Square, and will feature opening spots from Hypocrisy, Suffocation and Hulder. You’ll find the full route details here.