The serpent has risen once again!

After an eight-year wait since Eonian, Norwegian symphonic black metal pioneers Dimmu Borgir return with Grand Serpent Rising, their first studio album without longtime guitarist Galder since 1999. Formed in Oslo in 1993 by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv, Dimmu Borgir helped redefine black metal by fusing blistering extreme metal with grand orchestral arrangements, becoming one of the genre's most commercially successful and influential acts. Rather than attempting to reinvent themselves, Grand Serpent Rising embraces everything that has made Dimmu Borgir legendary—towering choirs, cinematic orchestration, crushing riffs, and relentless blast beats—while introducing enough fresh ideas to prevent the formula from feeling stale.

From the opening moments of "Tridentium," the band immediately demonstrates why few groups can match their sense of atmosphere. Rainfall, whispered voices, mournful strings, and haunting choirs slowly build tension before erupting into crushing riffs and relentless drumming. It feels less like the beginning of a metal album and more like the opening scene of a dark fantasy film. The production immediately impresses, creating enormous scale without sacrificing clarity, allowing the orchestral arrangements and guitars to coexist rather than compete for space.

"Ascent" wastes little time escalating the intensity. Daray's blast beats drive the song forward while razor-sharp guitar work slices through massive keyboard layers. One of the biggest surprises throughout the album is just how clear Shagrath's vocals sound. His trademark shrieks remain vicious but are mixed cleanly enough that every phrase carries weight without becoming buried beneath the instrumentation. Behind him, choirs and orchestral textures constantly reinforce the album's cinematic identity. The only noticeable drawback is the bass, which occasionally feels slightly recessed compared to the enormous guitars and keyboards, leaving some of the heaviest moments missing a little extra punch.

Throughout the record, Dimmu Borgir constantly shift between violence and elegance. "As Seen In The Unseen" moves effortlessly between acoustic passages, blistering blast beats, layered violins, and deep grooves, while Daray's tasteful fills and dynamic percussion keep the lengthy composition engaging. Meanwhile, "The Qryptfarer" proves the band are just as effective when exercising restraint. Piano melodies, layered vocal harmonies, and surprisingly catchy keyboard motifs gradually build anticipation before exploding into massive walls of black metal.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on Grand Serpent Rising is just how much groove hides beneath the darkness. Songs like "Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel" feature infectious riffs and keyboard hooks that almost invite headbanging rather than simply overwhelming the listener. The keyboards frequently function as lead instruments instead of background decoration, adding melody and personality without diminishing the heaviness.

Musically, the album remains consistently engaging from beginning to end. "Repository Of Divine Transmutation" showcases multiple guitar solos ranging from melodic leads to thrash-inspired shredding, while "Slik Minnes En Alkymist" briefly brightens the atmosphere through uplifting choir harmonies before plunging listeners back into darkness. Every few minutes the band introduces another orchestral flourish, acoustic passage, or rhythmic shift that prevents the lengthy runtime from becoming predictable.

The production deserves considerable praise. Despite the enormous number of layers present throughout the album, everything remains remarkably clear. The orchestration never overwhelms the guitars, the vocals retain presence without dominating the mix, and the drums maintain excellent definition. Daray's performance is particularly impressive, delivering relentless blast beats alongside tasteful tom work, cymbal accents, and dynamic fills that constantly push the songs forward.

There are, however, a few moments where the production slightly works against the album. Some slower spoken-word and cleaner vocal passages lack the intimidating presence the surrounding music creates, occasionally feeling more theatrical than genuinely sinister. Likewise, although Daray's performance is consistently outstanding, portions of the blast beats occasionally feel slightly buried beneath the dense orchestration. Bringing the drums forward just a little more would have given several heavier passages even greater impact.

The second half continues exploring different shades of darkness. "Phantom Of The Nemesis" delivers one of the album's most oppressive atmospheres through eerie synthesizers, thunderous tom work, and crushing riffs. "The Exonerated" feels somewhat more traditional by comparison, serving as a solid but less memorable entry among stronger surrounding material. "Recognizant" and "At The Precipice Of Convergence" continue layering haunting choirs, dense riffing, and cinematic arrangements, although the album's lengthy runtime occasionally causes certain songwriting patterns to become more noticeable.

The closing stretch ends on an especially strong note. "Shadows Of A Thousand Perceptions" blends delicate keyboard melodies, female vocal textures, expressive drumming, and constantly evolving orchestration into one of the album's most emotionally satisfying compositions. Finally, the instrumental "Gjǫll" allows Grand Serpent Rising to fade away through layered guitars, distant howls, subtle synthesizers, and sweeping orchestral arrangements, proving Dimmu Borgir don't need vocals to create an unforgettable atmosphere.

What makes Grand Serpent Rising successful isn't radical experimentation—it's confidence. Rather than chasing modern trends, Dimmu Borgir fully embrace the sound they've spent three decades refining. Towering choirs, cinematic keyboards, crushing black metal riffs, and dynamic songwriting combine into another impressive chapter in one of extreme metal's most influential careers.

While a handful of vocal choices, slightly recessed bass, and occasional mix decisions prevent the album from reaching absolute perfection, those issues are minor compared to the record's strengths. The songwriting remains engaging, the musicianship is exceptional, and the atmosphere is among the strongest the band has ever created.

After nearly a decade away, Dimmu Borgir return sounding every bit as grand, theatrical, and devastating as fans could have hoped. Grand Serpent Rising may not completely reinvent symphonic black metal, but it reminds everyone why Dimmu Borgir helped define it in the first place.

Score: 8.5/10