For All Tid

Dimmu Borgir - “For all tid” 1995

Dimmu Borgir
“For all tid”

Origin: Jessheim, Viken / Oslo, Norway

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Label: No Colours Records

Before its artists realized that common people are dazzled by the grandeur of symphonic metal as we know it today, symphonic black metal was a much more down-to-earth form of BM. Borgir weren’t always creating music to soundtrack the conquering of interstellar space. Long ago, when the sub-genre was in its developmental phase, they were creating records like ‘95’s “For all tid” that - much like “Nokturnal Mortum’s celebrated “Goat Horns” - is in fact a symphonic black metal album, but artful and grounded, unlike the abomination that the sub-genre has become. Septicflesh? Present day Borgir? Hard pass…

“For all tid” sounds like a real heartfelt black metal album that was created with fiery passion as opposed to the soulless “Death Cult Armageddon”. There are parts where the symphonic elements are stripped away completely; allowing for only the guitars and the drums to be appreciated. And even the symphonically overlain parts are done tastefully as if not to take too much away from the gorgeous black metal experience that lies just underneath. “Under korpens vinger” - man, Borgir had this whole BM thing down pact: the wretched vocals, the myriad of varying riffing patterns, the entrancing clean guitar arrangements and the just right atmosphere. Majestic, almost theatrical chanting vocals like some Sagelike enchanter crying out his spells in the night atop a snow capped bluff overlooking a Norse village, frigid winds, swords, horses, ale and that whole Braveheart vibe. Beautiful stuff. All the atmosphere black metal ever needed…

The titular track creeps along in mellow hypnotic fashion - a subtle Mayhem - “Life Eternal” sort of whimsicality to this one where playful bass lines intertwine through captivating guitar parts and martial rhythms. Are we sure this is symphonic black metal? Feels atmospheric to me. Could pass for either and it comes down to the ethereal quality of the keyboards and the airy tonality of the guitars. It’s all so light and so crystalline as opposed to the bold grandiosity of typical, or should I say modern day symphonic BM where every album feels more like the soundtrack to some box office smash vampire flick as opposed to this - the quintessential, and most importantly, the true and classic symphonic black metal experience…

There needs to be more of this action right now. These symphonic black metal bands are out of control. “My symphonic black metal band is more epic than yours!” It’s all so manufactured and devoid of anything artistically redeemable. Entertainment like a Michael Bay movie with lots of car crashes and helicopter explosions… But “For all tid”? Quality black metal of the nostalgic variety - a brilliant balance of olde Norse swagger and elegant symphonic/atmospheric allure, without the Cenobite costumes…

Experience the titular track to “For all tid” by Dimmu Borgir right here:

https://youtu.be/ffALaXclfYs?si=ynv3FhRRNWzStZYB

~Jeger