Eonian

Released in 2018 after an eight-year hiatus, Eonian marks a significant milestone in Dimmu Borgir's evolution. Produced by the band and engineered by Jens Bogren, the album leans heavily into the 'symphonic' half of their identity. While the black metal roots are present in the raspy vocals of Shagrath and the blast beats, the record is defined by its collaboration with the Schola Cantorum choir and complex orchestral arrangements. The songwriting on this album is notably more experimental than its predecessor, Abrahadabra, incorporating tribal elements and folk-like melodies that polarized some of the long-term fanbase. Lyrically, the album moves away from traditional occultism toward philosophical concepts of time and the illusion of the linear world. It stands as a testament to the band's longevity and their refusal to return to the lo-fi aesthetics of their 1990s origins, opting instead for a maximalist, high-fidelity experience that bridges the gap between extreme metal and film score composition.