Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band from Jessheim. Formed in 1993, the group was originally a trio which featured Sven Atle "Erkekjetter Silenoz" Kopperud on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ian Kenneth "Tjodalv" Åkesson on lead guitar, and Stian Tomt "Shagrath" Thoresen on drums. They were soon joined by bassist Ivar "Brynjard" Tristan and keyboardist Stian Aarstad. The band's current lineup is officially a duo comprising Shagrath on lead vocals and Silenoz on rhythm guitar. They are joined by backup members Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski on drums (since 2008), Geir "Gerlioz" Bratland on keyboards (since 2010), Victor Brandt on bass (since 2018) and Kjell Åge "Damage" Karlsen on lead guitar (since 2025).
History 1993–1999 Silenoz, Tjodalv and Shagrath formed Dimmu Borgir in 1993, finalising the band's initial lineup with the addition of Tristan and Aarstad shortly thereafter. After the group released several early demos and its debut album For all tid, Tjodalv and Shagrath switched roles in the lineup. Shortly after the release of the band's second album Stormblåst, Tristan was replaced by Stian "Nagash" Hinderson for the recording of the Devil's Path EP. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant followed in early 1997, the tour for which saw the addition of Jamie "Astennu" Stinson on lead guitar.
During the tour in promotion of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Aarstad was fired from Dimmu Borgir after failing to show up for the band's performance at Dynamo Open Air in May 1997. He was temporarily replaced by Kimberly Goss, most recently of Therion, for the remainder of the cycle. Early the next year, Øyvind Johan "Mustis" Mustaparta took over full-time. After the recording of 1999's Spiritual Black Dimensions, both Tjodalv and Nagash left Dimmu Borgir. They were replaced on the subsequent tour by Nick Barker and Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs, respectively.
1999–2007 At the end of 1999, Astennu was fired from Dimmu Borgir, which Barker claimed was due to his lack of interest in the band. He was replaced initially early the next year by Lars Archon, before Tom Rune "Galder" Anderson took over in the summer. The lineup of Shagrath, Galder, Silenoz, Vortex, Mustis and Barker remained stable for several years, releasing the albums Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, World Misanthropy and Death Cult Armageddon. In January 2004, Barker was dismissed from the band, which he suggested was likely due to the fact that he lived in a different country.
Despite an early rumour that Barker's place had been taken by Asgeir Mickelson, a bandmate of ICS Vortex's in Borknagar, it was announced in March that the new temporary touring drummer was Reno Kiilerich, most notably of Panzerchrist. After he was unable to obtain a US visa in time for the tour, the drummer was replaced for Ozzfest in the summer by Tony Laureano of Nile. Laureano remained for live shows the following summer, while Mayhem drummer Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg was brought in to record Stormblåst MMV as a guest session contributor.
Since 2007 Hellhammer continued working with Dimmu Borgir for the album In Sorte Diaboli and subsequent tour dates, although he never became an official band member. When he broke his arm in June 2007, he was replaced by the returning Tony Laureano. By October 2008, he had been replaced in the touring lineup by former Vader drummer Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski. At the end of August 2009, long-term members ICS Vortex and Mustis were both dismissed. The remaining band members later claimed that the pair had displayed "unprofessionalism and bad live performances for years".
In 2010, Vortex and Mustis were replaced by Tommie "Snowy Shaw" Helgesson and Geir "Gerlioz" Bratland, respectively, although both were credited as guest performers (alongside Daray) and the band's frontman Shagrath confirmed that only he, Silenoz and Galder were official members of the group. Shaw left in August and was replaced on tour by Susperia guitarist Terje "Cyrus" Andersen. He remained until May 2018, when he was replaced by Victor Brandt (of Firespawn and formerly of Entombed A.D.).
On August 18, 2024, Galder announced via his Instagram account that he had left Dimmu Borgir, playing his last show the day before at Dynamo Metal Fest. In June 2025, the band announced Kjell Åge "Damage" Karlsen (of Chrome Division) as new lead guitarist.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsShagrath1993–presentall Dimmu Borgir releasesErkekjetter Silenoz
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsTjodalv1993–1999 Stian Aarstad1993–1997all Dimmu Borgir releases from Rehearsal January 1994 (1994) to Live & Plugged, Vol. 2 (1997), except Devil's Path (1996)Brynjard Tristan1993–1996bassall Dimmu Borgir releases from Rehearsal January 1994 (1994) to Stormblåst (1996)Nagash1996–1999Astennu1997–1999lead guitarMustis1998–2009 ICS Vortex1999–2009 all Dimmu Borgir releases from Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) to The Invaluable Darkness (2008), except Stormblåst MMV (2005)Nick Barker1999–2004all Dimmu Borgir releases from Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) to Death Cult Armageddon (2003)Lars Archon2000lead guitarnoneGalder2000–2024all Dimmu Borgir releases from Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) to Inspiratio Profanus (2023), except Stormblåst MMV (2005) and Live at Dynamo Open Air 1998 (2019)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsKimberly Goss1997–1998Goss temporarily toured with Dimmu Borgir after Stian Aarstad was fired from the band in May 1997.Aggressor1997 drumsAggressor briefly substituted for Tjodalv in 1997, after he took a sabbatical to be with his newborn child.Reno Kiilerich2004After Nick Barker was dismissed in January 2004, Kiilerich briefly joined as a touring replacement.Tony LaureanoLaureano took over from Kiilerich due to a visa issue, then from Hellhammer after he broke his arm.Hellhammer2005–2007Daray2008–presentSecthdamon2007Secthdamon handled the live bass on Dimmu Borgir's European Tour in 2007, when ICS Vortex was not able to play.Gerlioz 2010–present Snowy Shaw2010Abrahadabra (2010)Cyrus2010–2014 Forces of the Northern Night (2017)Victor Brandt2018–presentbassGrand Serpent Rising (2026)Damage 2025–presentlead guitar
Timelines Members
Recording AlbumLead vocalsLead guitarRhythm guitarBassKeyboardsDrumsClean vocalsInn i evighetens mørke (1994)SilenozTjodalvSilenozBrynjard TristanStian AarstadShagrathnoneFor all tid (1995)Aldrahn (1 track)Stormblåst (1996)ShagrathTjodalvnoneDevil's Path (1996)ShagrathNagashShagrathEnthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)Stian AarstadGodless Savage Garden (1998)AstennuStian Aarstad Mustis Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999)MustisICS VortexPuritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)GalderICS VortexNick BarkerDeath Cult Armageddon (2003)Stormblåst MMV (2005)ShagrathShagrathHellhammernoneIn Sorte Diaboli (2007)GalderICS VortexICS VortexAbrahadabra (2010)Snowy ShawShagrath/GerliozDaraySnowy Shaw (3 tracks) Agnete Kjølsrud (1 track)
Garm (1 track)Eonian (2018)Shagrath/Galder/SilenoznoneGrand Serpent Rising (2026)Kjell Åge KarlsenVictor Brandt
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1993Shagrath – drums, additional vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass Tjodalv – lead guitar, additional drumsnone1993 – summer 1995Shagrath – drums, additional vocals Silenoz – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Tjodalv – lead guitar, additional drums Brynjard Tristan – bass Stian Aarstad – keyboards, synthesizersRehearsal January 1994 (1994) Rehearsal February 1994 (1994) Rehearsal August 1994 (1994) Inn i evighetens mørke (1994) For all tid (1995)Summer 1995 – early 1996Shagrath – lead guitar, additional vocals Silenoz – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Tjodalv – drums, percussion Brynjard Tristan – bass Stian Aarstad – keyboards, synthesizersStormblåst (1996)Early 1996 – early 1997Shagrath – lead guitar, lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Tjodalv – drums, percussion Stian Aarstad – keyboards, synthesizers Nagash – bass, backing vocalsDevil's Path (1996) (does not feature Stian Aarstad) Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)March – May 1997Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Tjodalv – drums, percussion Stian Aarstad – keyboards, synthesizers Nagash – bass, backing vocals Astennu – lead guitarLive & Plugged, Vol. 2 (1997) Godless Savage Garden (1998) Summer 1997 – early 1998Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Tjodalv – drums, percussion Nagash – bass, backing vocals Astennu – lead guitarnoneEarly 1998 – March 1999Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Tjodalv – drums, percussion Nagash – bass, backing vocals Astennu – lead guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizersGodless Savage Garden (1998) Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999) Live at Dynamo Open Air 1998 (2019)March – late 1999Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Astennu – lead guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Nick Barker – drums, percussionnoneLate 1999 – summer 2000Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Nick Barker – drums, percussion Lars Archon – lead guitarSummer 2000 – January 2004Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Nick Barker – drums, percussion Galder – lead guitarPuritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001) Alive in Torment (2002) World Misanthropy (2002) Death Cult Armageddon (2003)March – July 2004Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Reno Kiilerich – drums noneJuly 2004 – April 2005Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Tony Laureano – drums April – August 2005Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Tony Laureano – drums Hellhammer – drums Stormblåst MMV (2005)August 2005 – June 2007Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Hellhammer – drums In Sorte Diaboli (2007)June 2007 – October 2008Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Tony Laureano – drums The Invaluable Darkness (2008)October 2008 – August 2009Shagrath – lead vocals Silenoz – rhythm guitar Mustis – keyboards, synthesizers ICS Vortex – bass, clean vocals Galder – lead guitar Daray – drums noneEarly – August 2010Shagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Galder – lead guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Snowy Shaw – bass, vocals Abrahadabra (2010)September 2010 – August 2014Shagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Galder – lead guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Cyrus – bass Forces of the Northern Night (2017)August 2014 – May 2018Shagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Galder – lead guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Eonian (2018)May 2018 – August 2024Shagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Galder – lead guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Victor Brandt – bass noneAugust 2024 – June 2025 Shagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Victor Brandt – bass noneJune 2025 – presentShagrath – lead vocals, bass, keyboards Silenoz – rhythm guitar, bass Daray – drums Gerlioz – keyboards Victor Brandt – bass Damage – lead guitar Grand Serpent Rising (2026)
References
External links Dimmu Borgir official website