Abrahadabra is the ninth studio album by Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released in 2010. The first single from the album, "Gateways", was released on August 20 in Europe and August 24 in North America. On September 14, a video for "Gateways" was released featuring Djerv front-woman, Agnete Kjølsrud. On September 17, the song "Born Treacherous" was released on Dimmu Borgir's official Myspace for streaming. On September 24, the band announced they would stream Abrahadabra in its entirety, until 7 p.m. EST that evening. This would mark the first official release of all the tracks on the album. The album features drummer Daray and additional keyboards by Gerlioz.
Abrahadabra was in production for eleven months. Silenoz explained that the growing periods of time between albums was because the band had stopped writing music while touring, which was affecting the quality of the music. He described the new album as having an "eerie and haunting feel to it," adding that the material is "epic," "primal," atmospheric and ambient. A promotional image released with the statement showed Shagrath returning to the keyboards. The album features an ensemble orchestra, the Kringkastingsorkestret (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra), as well as the Schola Cantorum choir, totaling more than 100 musicians and singers.
Gaute Storaas, composer of the orchestral arrangements, released a statement on his role in working on the album. “Their music is epic, thematic and symphonic already from the creation; they are clearly having an orchestral approach to composing. My role in this is sometimes just to transcribe their themes, sometimes to take their ideas, tear them apart and build them back up in ways that are true to the band's intentions. The music must also be both interesting and playable for the musicians, and hopefully, meet the quality standards of the orchestral world.”.
"Abrahadabra", loosely translated as "I will create as I speak", was created by author Aleister Crowley in his work Liber AL vel Legis, or The Book of the Law. This album is the second in the band's repertoire to deviate from the traditional three-word title. Silenoz explained: "[It made] a lot of sense for us to move on from that. It has served its purpose. We are a band that's all about change and moving forward. An album title consisting of one word goes hand-in-hand with the new material". In addition, Silenoz referenced the changes in the band's "musical and lyrical content", as well as changes in the band's line-up playing a role.
The album cover artwork was designed by Joachim Luetke, who described the artwork's setting as "icy, bleak, wintery, [and] post-industrial". Luetke added that the central figure's mask on the cover is representative of H. P. Lovecraft's Elder Gods. "The mask/face personifies dominion of powers far beyond mankind. The nameless gods witnessed the birth of our universe and they'll watch it implode. To them, the age of mankind is but a blink of an eye".
After the release of the album, the band announced that all future pressings would carry a different album cover.
As stated by guitarists, Silenoz and Galder, in an interview with Outune.net, the album presents musical influences reminiscent of Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon, with more emphasis on orchestral arrangements.
The album's lyrics are a notable departure from the usual style that Dimmu Borgir implements. Songs contain subjects that deal with redemption, power, rebirth and astral planes, among other, more vague concepts. Rather than focus on ideas that are often panned as Satanic and offensive, the band has instead opted to use more worldly and open matters. The start of track six contains a backward message: "In Nomine dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi" (English translation: In the name of our God, Satan the Morning Star).
Track listing
All music & lyrics composed by Shagrath, Silenoz and Galder.
- "Xibir" (Instrumental) 2:50
- "Born Treacherous" 5:02
- "Gateways" 5:10
- "Chess with the Abyss" 4:08
- "Dimmu Borgir" 5:35
- "Ritualist" 5:13
- "The Demiurge Molecule" 5:29
- "A Jewel Traced Through Coal" 5:16
- "Renewal" 4:11
- "Endings and Continuations" 5:58
Release dates:
Japan - September 22
Germany - September 24
Rest of Europe - September 27
Australia - October 1
North America - October 12
Additional performer:
- The Norwegian Radio Orchestra, conducted by Gaute Storås.
Enhanced element contains:
- Gateways (video) (05:04)
Schola Cantorum Choir (directed by Rune Halvorsen) are: Anna Blechingberg, Aste Jensen Sjøvaag, Astrid Sandsør, Barbro Berg, Birgit Maakestad Enghaug, Christian Pollock Fjellstad, Eivind Støylen, Erik Hedmo, Guro Schjelderup, Hakon Andersen, Hakon Skyberg, Hauk J. Røsten, Hilde Stenseng, Ida Tingstein, Inger Helseth, Ingrid Stige, Ingvild Farestveit Hov, Karen Austad Christensen, Kjersti Almenningen, Ludvik Kjaernes, Magnus Dorholt Kjeldal, Magnus Tveten, Marlene Wilhelmine Jensen, Martin Røsok, Mathilde Salmi Marjavara, Ole Albrekt Nedrelid, Per Christian Rolin, Ragnhild E. Bye Luetken, Robin J. Guttulsrød, Silje Indrebø, Sindre Bjerkestrand, Sissel Anette Myhre, Thomas Ringen, Thomas Tinglum, Tina Dahl, Tord Kalvenes, Vilde Groth Pettersen, Øyvind Blikstad
Recording information:
Produced by Dimmu Borgir.
Drums, Shagrath's and Snowy's vocals were recorded with Daniel Bergstrand in Dugout Studios, Uppsala, Sweden.
Guitars, bass and keyboards were recorded in Oslo, Norway with Russ Russell as the engineer.
Mixed and mastered at Backstage Studio, Derbyshire, England, by Andy Sneap and Dimmu Borgir.
