Album Review: Dimmu Borgir – Eonian

How the mighty have fallen

Back in 2018, I wrote a bunch of reviews that I couldn’t publish anywhere. So I’m putting them here.

Eonian, the latest album from former black metal band Dimmu Borgir, draws its name from the word “eon”, which is both the amount of time that’s passed since their last album, 2010’s Abrahadabra, and how long this album drags on.

A far cry from the heavy classics like Stormblåst or Death Cult Armageddon, Eonian instead plays out like a pale imitation of a Nightwish or Epica album. Unlike those bands, however, Dimmu Borgir are completely sidelined on their own album by the full orchestra and 26-piece choir they decided to hire. Probably the worst example of this is the cacophonous single “Council of Wolves and Snakes”. Starting on a cool, doomy riff, “Council” quickly goes off the deep end, incorporating something called “Shaman Vocals” and “Voodoo Percussion”. About 3 minutes in, the choir comes in as well, accompanied by Shagrath’s strange, xylophone-tuned keyboards. The worst part about “Council” is that it’s built around a killer guitar riff, but ends up a confusing mess.

Eonian is a victim of overambition. Songs like “Council”, “Lightbringer”, and “Ætheric” try to mix classic black metal heaviness with a more mature, symphonic sound. While this can work – Armageddon’s “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse” is arguably both one of the best symphonic and black metal songs ever made – Dimmu Borgir doesn’t stop there, adding unnecessary xylophones, over-the-top choirs, and a whole array of other instruments when guitars and drums would have been enough. Additionally, the lyrics are pretty tame, considering this is a band from the most satanic metal subculture. With lines about time, travelers, and an unsettling number of references to dragons, Eonian is basically the Wal-Mart version of Dimmu Borgir.

With its smooth production, pretentious lyrics, and annoying choir, Eonian is a betrayal of an entire genre by one of its biggest bands.

1/10