Flashy, controversial, arrogant, boisterous perhaps... but also sincere, straight-talking and honest in his opinions and straightforward in his views, such are a few words that could describe Dimmu Borgir's enigmatic frontman Shagrath. The man, the "legend" as we all know.
I say enigmatic because it's typically Silenoz, a Dimmu Borgir band mate, that gives interviews, especially with larger news outfits. To find actual Shagrath interviews you often have to translate them directly from a local Norwegian newspaper, and it's not an easy task, even if you know Bokmål yourself! Anyway, back to Dimmu Borgir.
The band itself recently made the news, coming under fire by none other than Satyricon's frontman Satyr who accused them of "not being there" - read, with Euronymous in the Black Metal Inner Circle, when the genre was founded - and also blamed them for the sorry state of modern black metal.
Shagrath Interview: "Dimmu Borgir Haters Need To Grow Up!"
In an interview with the one and only Morsay Mag, second oldest heavy metal magazine after Kerrang!, Shagrath lays down some raw truths directly perhaps at Satyr, but at Dimmu Borgir "haters" more generally.
Shagrath: Yeah, we did, we had a lot of line up changes. Me and Silenoz are the only original members left. But, you know, things happen for a good reason, people have different ambitions, some people quit the band, some people... (dramatic pause) get fired for, you know... (laughs) we keep on going for some reasons, but the three main songwriters are me, Silenoz and Galder.
This is in reference to the many line up changes Dimmu Borgir has went through over their history.
Must Read: The 5 Albums That Ruined Black Metal!
But if the interview started courteous, Dimmu Borgir's frontman had other ideas in mind.
Shagrath: "Dimmu Borgir Made Black Metal Mainstream!"
The vocalist also attacks what he perceives as ungratefulness on the part of other black metal bands. According to him, they are "only known" because of Dimmu Borgir "breaching the gates" to the mainstream crowd.
I don't know if we can say 'mainstream' but I think we have been outcast in general. And we had carved the way for many other bands later... Somehow [people forget that] Dimmu Borgir has been the band that brought black metal to mainstream [...] I am old school. Very old school. I am old school myself but for me as a musician is important to grow, you know, we have never been afraid of carving new territories, we do what we want to do, we don't... we always break the rules, we were the first. [...] There's a lot of narrow minded thinking in the underground scene.
This is probably a reference towards musicians such as Fenriz or Kanwulf who frequently make "lists" of bands which are true, and those which aren't. Needless to say, Dimmu Borgir isn't often on the "true black metal" list.
Dimmu Borgir vs Elitist Haters (and their Parents!)
It wouldn't be a complete Shagrath interview without some controversial takes - we won't go into more detail here, but look up the infamous 1995 interview if you have time.
Shagrath: If you have to go on the internet and talk shit to everything you don't like then to me it tells me that you have bad manners. Your parents brought you up in a bad way. Because most people with common sense, they don't do that, you know. And of course they are entitled to have an opinion, but you don't have to scream about it on the internet; at least I don't do that. I mean there are a lot of bands I don't like either but I don't, you know, I keep that for myself! (laughs). Because that's MY opinion. [...] Many of the bands who claim to be 'true' or 'elite' or what not were the first to copy Dimmu Borgir's sound once we made it big.
One thing about Dimmu Borgir that you can't deny: these guys have serious musical talent. Just listen to "For All Tid". Hell, even after they "sold out", their musical output is MUCH better than many "modern black metal" bands. Not naming names, but if you know, you know.
It's sad that Dimmu Borgir went the mainstream route, but as long as the musicians involved (Shagrath, Silenoz and Galder) appreciate their craft, then it's all good. It's better to be "authentically commercial" (IMO), than to fake being "true". At least that's my view on the subject.
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