Photos by Alitzia Tyminski – Formed in Jessheim, Norway, in 1993, Dimmu Borgir—led by core members Shagrath (vocals) and Silenoz (guitars)—emerged as one of the defining forces of Norwegian black metal before pioneering a theatrical, symphonically charged evolution of the genre. Breakthrough albums like 1997’s Enthrone Darkness Triumphant and early-2000s classics Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon elevated the group from underground notoriety to international metal royalty. Characterized by complex orchestral arrangements, relentless blast beats, and dark visual grandeur, the band spent three decades establishing themselves as extreme metal’s most commercially successful and stylistically ambitious crossover act.
The year 2026 marks a major creative rebirth for the band with the May release of Grand Serpent Rising via Nuclear Blast Records, their tenth studio album and first full-length effort in eight years. Reorganizing after the 2024 departure of longtime guitarist Galder, the current era features new lead guitarist Kjell Åge “Damage” Karlsen alongside touring veterans Victor Brandt, Gerlioz, and Daray. Recorded at Studio Fredman with legendary producer Fredrik Nordström, the album intentionally revisits the aggressive, guitar-driven symphonic sound of their peak 2000s era while incorporating Norwegian-language lyrics for the first time in over two decades.
Backing the new record, Dimmu Borgir launched a massive global touring campaign across late 2026, breaking an eight-year performance hiatus in North America with an August headlining tour alongside Suffocation and Hulder. The tour highlights a refreshed live production featuring debuting tracks from Grand Serpent Rising alongside classic setlist deep cuts. The band continues their 2026 momentum into the autumn by co-headlining the “In League With Satan” European arena tour with Behemoth and Dark Funeral, proving three decades in that their brand of cinematic symphonic extreme metal remains an enduring global force.
HULDER
Conceived as the solo project of the dark black metal musician known as Hulder, the entity emerged from the Pacific Northwest to become one of modern extreme metal’s most compelling forces. Rooted in the harsh, majestic traditions of 1990s Scandinavian black metal, early releases like 2021’s Godslastering: Hymns of a Broken Dragon and 2024’s Verses in Oath earned widespread acclaim for blending ferocious tremolo riffing and blast beats with haunting atmospheric and medieval textures. Across a rapid succession of demos, EPs, and full-lengths, Hulder established a distinctive sonic identity defined by ancestral reverence and dark visual elegance.
The year 2026 marks a major milestone in the project’s evolution with the August release of their third full-length album, Verbolgen, co-released by 20 Buck Spin and Season of Mist. The album represents a pivotal structural transformation, formally bringing long-time collaborator Necreon into the fold as a full creative partner alongside Hulder. Deepening its thematic scope with lyrics spanning English, Flemish, and Proto-Germanic, Verbolgen weaves hurdy-gurdy, flutes, and acoustic passages into aggressive black metal, cementing the project’s most ambitious and immersive work to date.
Parallel to the new record, 2026 has seen Hulder significantly expand their live presence on major festival and touring stages. Following a high-profile North American run alongside Dimmu Borgir and Hypocrisy, the group embarked on their headlining Verbolgen Tour across the Pacific Northwest in the autumn. Combining expanded live lineups with a richer, multi-instrumental aesthetic, Hulder continues to solidify their position at the forefront of contemporary dark black metal.
