Look up offering in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Offering may refer to:

• Offering, a collection of monetary contributions during religious worship, see alms, tithe or charity
• Offering, a religious sacrifice of plant, animal or human life
• Offering (Buddhism), a part of devotional practice

• Phan (tray)

• Securities offering, a discrete round of investment, usually regulated in the United States by the Securities Act of 1933
• Offering (Axe album)
• Offering (Merzbow album)
• Offering (painting), a painting by Jamini Roy
• Offering of the Mandan Indians, painting by Karl Bodmer
• Ticket to Ride (album), a 1969 album by duo The Carpenters, originally named Offering

See also[link]

• Offer (disambiguation)
• Offerings (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Paul Baloche
Paul Baloche in concert at St. John Lutheran Church-Ellisville, MO, USA
Background information
Birth name	Paul Baloche
Born	(1962-06-04) June 4, 1962 (age 50)
Origin	Camden, New Jersey, USA
Genres	Worship Contemporary Christian
Occupations	Worship leader, singer-songwriter
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Integrity
Associated acts	Don Moen, Rita Baloche
Website	leadworship.com
Notable instruments
Acoustic guitar

Paul Baloche (pronounced /bəˈlɒʃ/ bə-LOSH; born on June 4, 1962) is an American Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter. A native of Maple Shade, New Jersey,^[1] Baloche is currently the worship pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas. Baloche composes on piano and acoustic guitar, favoring guitar when leading worship. His wife, Rita Baloche, is also a Christian songwriter. Baloche is one of the writers for Compassionart, a charity founded by Martin Smith from Delirious?.^[2]

Several Christian artists, such as Michael W. Smith and SONICFLOOd, have recorded Baloche's songs. Many of his songs are among the most performed songs in services according to CCLI, a company that handles copyright licensing of Christian songs and other resource materials for use in churches. Among them are "Open the Eyes of My Heart" (ranked number 2) and "Above All" (ranked number 22), cowritten with Lenny Leblanc. "Above All" was nominated for Song of the Year in both the 2002 and 2003 Dove Awards, and in 2002, Michael W. Smith's recording of that song won Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. Baloche was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year in 2002.^[3] In 2009, Baloche won a Dove Award for Inspiration Recorded Song of the Year as coauthor of "A New Hallelujah" with Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie Smith.^[4]

Baloche uses his position as a recording artist to provide resources for churches. His catalog of six albums is focused on providing worship music for the listener to worship along with, and for churches to use in their own services. His albums are released by Hosanna! Music, a division of Integrity Music. Through Integrity, Baloche has also written a book, God Songs, and released instructional DVDs that cover a variety of issues central to contemporary worship, such as music styles, music theory, creating flow in worship, and guitar techniques (including his methods on open chord voicings). In addition to his material output, Baloche participates in several seminars for worship leaders and musicians throughout North America and Asia.^[5]

The 2006 release A Greater Song is a live recording featuring songs by Baloche, some cowritten with worship artists including Matt Redman ("A Greater Song") and former Integrity Music president Don Moen ("Thank You Lord").^[5]

The 2009 release Glorious featured the single "Just To Be With You," which Baloche explained "is simply about intimacy with God." ^[6]

Discography[link]

• He is Faithful (1992)
• First Love - Hosanna! Music (1998)
• Open the Eyes of My Heart (2000)
• God of Wonders - Hosanna! Music (2001)
• Offering of Worship (2003)
• A Greater Song (2006)
• Arise: A Celebration of Worship - Integrity Music (2006)
• Our God Saves (2007) – reached #39 on the top Christian albums charts in 2007.^[7]
• The Writer's Collection (2008)
• Live in Asia (2009) (Recorded live in Seoul, South Korea and labeled by Integrity Asia)
• Glorious (2009)^[8]
• The Same Love (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• leadworship.com – Official website
• Instructional Resources
• Paul's Myspace page
• Artist's Label Page

Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns performing in 2011 on the Come to the Well Tour.
Background information
Origin	Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
Genres	Contemporary Christian Christian rock Soft rock
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Sony BMG/Beach Street/Reunion (U.S.) Sony Music Philippines (Philippines)
Website	castingcrowns.com
Members
Mark Hall (lead vocals) Juan DeVevo (lead guitar) Hector Cervantes (rhythm guitar) Melodee DeVevo (violin, backing vocals) Megan Garrett (piano) Chris Huffman (bass guitar) Brian Scoggin (drums)
Past members
Andy Williams (drums)

Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida^[1] as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist. Later they moved to Stockbridge, Georgia and more members joined creating the band now known as Casting Crowns. Some members of the band currently work as ministers for Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in Stockbridge, Georgia.^[2]

History[link]

Formation and self-titled debut[link]

Christian rock group Casting Crowns began as a student worship band in Daytona Beach, FL, in 1999. Led by singer, songwriter, and youth pastor Mark Hall, the group initially included guitarists Juan DeVevo and Hector Cervantes and violinist Melodee DeVevo. The group relocated to Stockbridge, GA, in 2001, adding Chris Huffman on bass, Megan Garrett on keyboards and accordion, and drummer Andy Williams. This augmented version of Casting Crowns released two independent albums on CD, both of which were well received in the Atlanta area. Both independent albums were efforts on the part of Mark Hall and the rest of the group as outreach projects for youth in the area.^[3] The group won the GMA regional songwriters competition at Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, Florida in both the "Best Song" and the "Best Artist" categories in 2004. Although the group was not searching for a record label, one of the group's albums found its way into the hands of Mark Miller, lead singer for country group Sawyer Brown, who was struck by Casting Crowns' driving pop/rock style and Hall's vocal delivery of his hard-hitting but devout songs. Miller signed Casting Crowns to his fledgling Beach Street Records, a division of Reunion Records with distribution by the Provident Label Group, making Casting Crowns the first artist signed to Beach Street Records.^[4]

Mark Miller took the group into the studio along with co-producer Steven Curtis Chapman, himself a popular artist on the CCM musical scene. The resulting eponymous album, Casting Crowns, was released in 2003 on the Beach Street imprint. The album quickly made them one of the fastest selling debut artists in Christian music history. The album's third single, "Voice of Truth", spent a record-breaking fourteen consecutive weeks at #1 beginning in 2003. "Voice of Truth" is also by the trailer and the ending from the movie Facing the Giants. The album was certified platinum in 2005,^[5] and in 2011, the group received their first gold certification for a single for the song 'Who Am I' from their debut record.

[edit] Lifesong and Lifesong Live (2005-2006)

Lifesong followed in 2005, debuting at #9 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. The album had three singles: “Lifesong”, “Praise You in this Storm”, and “ Does Anybody Hear Her?”. "Lifesong" spent nine weeks in the top spot, with "Praise You in This Storm" remaining at #1 for seven weeks. Apart from being successful in the charts, Lifesong earned Casting Crowns their first Grammy Award for their work on the album in 2006.

In 2006, the group released Lifesong Live, which included live performances of songs from their studio album Lifesong.

[edit] The Altar and the Door and The Altar and the Door Live (2007-2008)

The band's third studio album The Altar and the Door debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart^[6] and #1 on the Hot Christian Albums chart upon its release in August 2007. Ten weeks after the album’s release date, it was certified gold by the RIAA.^[7] On September 27, 2007 the band embarked on the ‘Altar and the Door’ tour with Leeland and John Waller . The tour was highly successful, grossing $4.4 million ticket sales.^[8] Casting Crowns broke their own record in 2007 when the single "East to West" from The Altar and the Door hit sixteen consecutive weeks at #1. The song ended up enjoying the top spot for a total of nineteen weeks, now their most successful single to date. "Slow Fade" was also released as a single, and was included in the soundtrack of the Kirk Cameron film Fireproof.

In 2008, Casting Crowns scored their eighth number one hit with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a track from their newly-released Christmas album entitled Peace on Earth.

[edit] Until the Whole World Hears (2009-2011)

In early 2009, drummer Andy Williams left to pursue a further calling with blessings from the band. The drummer was replaced with Brian Scoggin and his red locks of hair, an irony Mark mentions on tour.

Casting Crowns was one of the only American bands to ever have been invited to North Korea. They attended the 2009 April Spring Arts Festival in Pyongyang where they performed with The Annie Moses Band. This was Casting Crowns second time invited to the Festival sponsored by Global Resource Services, the first time being in 2007.^[9][10] On August 30, 2009 Casting Crowns performed on Huckabee, Mike Huckabee's political show.

Casting Crown's fourth major studio album, Until the Whole World Hears, was released on November 17, 2009, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 167,000 copies in its first week alone, setting a new record for the highest Christian album debut in history.^[11] It was certified gold within 4 weeks.^[12] The title track and first single from the album became the groups ninth #1 single in January 2010. Before the album was released, the band went on tour with Matt Redman for the fall Until The Whole World Hears Tour. They went on the first spring leg of the tour with Kutless, and toured with Tenth Avenue North on the second spring leg.

In April 2010, Casting Crowns won the Dove Award for Artist of the Year, their first ever win in that category. A music video for the title track of Until the Whole World Hears was posted on the band's YouTube page on August 23, 2010.

The track Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me) was released as a single in 2011 and reached #1 on Billboard Christian Songs during the week of April 23, 2011.

[edit] Come to the Well (2011-present)

Casting Crowns' latest song, "Courageous", was released as a single on July 19, 2011. The music video for the song was released on June 13, 2011 and promotes the film Courageous. The song was featured on their latest album, Come to the Well, which was released on October 18, 2011.

Ministry[link]

Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall calls the band's work a ministry akin to what the world would call "preaching to the choir." In keeping with The Great Commission, Hall describes their music as a "ministry of discipleship."

Four members of Casting Crowns currently minister at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA where they play during the Contemporary Worship service on Sunday mornings. They do the band part-time around their full-time work of mentoring teenagers at the church.^[2] They often tour from Thursday- Saturday so that they can be home for church on Sunday morning and Wednesday night.^[13]

Members[link]

Current[link]

• Mark Hall – lead vocals and songwriter (1999–Present)
• Hector Cervantes – lead guitar and background vocals (1999–Present)
• Juan DeVevo – guitar and background vocals (1999–Present)
• Chris Huffman – bass and background vocals ^[14] (2001–Present)
• Megan Garrett – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2001–Present)
• Melodee DeVevo – violin, backing vocals, cello (1999–Present)
• Brian Scoggin – drums (2009–Present)

Former[link]

• Andy Williams - drums (2001–2009)

Books[link]

• Lifestories by Mark Hall
• Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall
• The Well by Mark Hall

Producers/Executive Producers[link]

• Steven Curtis Chapman - Producer for album Casting Crowns
• Mark A. Miller - Producer for albums Casting Crowns, Lifesong, The Altar and the Door, and Until The Whole World Hears
• Terry Hemmings - Executive Producer for album Lifesong, The Altar and the Door, and Until The Whole World Hears

Discography[link]

Independent albums[link]

• 2001: Casting Crowns
• 2002: What If The Whole World Prayed

Studio albums[link]

• 2003: Casting Crowns
• 2005: Lifesong
• 2007: The Altar and the Door
• 2008: Peace on Earth
• 2009: Until the Whole World Hears
• 2011: Come to the Well

Live albums[link]

• 2004: Live from Atlanta
• 2006: Lifesong Live
• 2008: The Altar and the Door Live
• 2010: Until the Whole World Hears... Live

Music videos[link]

• American Dream
• Does Anybody Hear Her
• Slow Fade
• Until the Whole World Hears
• Courageous
• Just Another Birthday
• Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Achievements[link]

• Career sales have exceeded 5 million records.
• Voted CCM Readers' Choice Awards "Favorite Band", "Favorite New Artist" and "Favorite Album" in 2005.
• "Lifesong" voted "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2005 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• "Praise You in this Storm" was the fifth most played song of 2006 according to R&R magazine^[15]
• "East To West" voted "AC Single of the Year" and "Inspirational Single of the Year" by online music fans in the 2007 CCMSingles.Net Awards.
• Casting Crowns was the most played artist on Christian Radio in 2007, according Radio & Records Weekly charts (12/10).
• Casting Crowns is the second fastest Christian band in history to have their first two albums certified platinum, the fastest being Jars of Clay.^[7]

GMA Dove Awards^[16]

Grammy Awards^[17]

References[link]

1. ^ Norris, Jane (18 May 2009). "There's No Slow Fade in the Forecast for Casting Crowns". The Daily Progress. http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/entertainment/music/article/theres_no_slow_fade_in_the_forecast_for_casting_crowns/40282/. Retrieved July 4, 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "CASTING CROWNS SETS SALES RECORD AS HIGHEST DEBUTING CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST IN SOUNDSCAN HISTORY; UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS FIRST-WEEK SCANS EXCEED 167,000". Jesus Freak Hideout. 25 November 2009. http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/11/25.CASTING%20CROWNS%20SETS%20SALES%20RECORD%20AS%20HIGHEST%20DEBUTING%20CHRISTIAN%20MUSIC%20ARTIST.asp. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
3. ^ Owen, Linda (2005 November). "Casting Crowns’ "Who Am I"". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/novdec/14.13.html. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
4. ^ Herman, Michael (2004). "Overnight Sensation". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2004/castingcrowns-0204.html. Retrieved 2009-10-08. 
5. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. 
6. ^ "Casting Crowns ‘The Altar and the Door’ Debuts at No. 2". CCM Magazine. 2007 September. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 September 2009. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "The Altar and the Door Certified Gold by RIAA in Ten Weeks". CCM Magazine. 2007 September. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11553550/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 November 2009. 
8. ^ "Casting Crowns Dominates Christian Music in 2007". CCM Magazine. 2007 December. http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11562037/casting%20crowns/. Retrieved 16 November 2009. 
9. ^ Young, Eric (2009-04-21). "Casting Crowns Heads Home After North Korea Trip". Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090421/casting-crowns-heads-home-after-north-korea-trip/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-23. 
10. ^ French, Rose (2009-04-11). "Musicians hope to ease tensions in North Korea". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/tennessee/2009-04-11-2447326404_x.htm?loc=interstitialskip. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
11. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/11/25.CASTING%20CROWNS%20SETS%20SALES%20RECORD%20AS%20HIGHEST%20DEBUTING%20CHRISTIAN%20MUSIC%20ARTIST.asp
12. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/12/21.CASTING%20CROWNS%20CERTIFIES%20RIAA%20GOLD%20IN%20FOUR%20WEEKS.asp
13. ^ http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/mark-hall-of-casting-486668.html
14. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCH-qjbwcIw
15. ^ As played on the January 7, 2007 Weekend 22
16. ^ "Dove Awards History Artist: Casting Crowns". Gospel Music Association. http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
17. ^ "Grammy Award Winners". The Recording Academy. http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 

External links[link]

• Casting Crowns official site
• Casting Crowns Artist Profile on Christian Music Review
• The Altar and the Door album review on Christian Music Review
• Casting Crowns on WorshipSong
• The Altar & The Door Tour 2009 concert review from NewReleaseTuesday.com

Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir performing in 2011.
Background information
Origin	Oslo, Norway
Genres	Black metal, symphonic black metal, symphonic metal
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Ex-No Colours, ex-Spikefarm, ex-Cacophonous, ex-Century Media, Nuclear Blast
Associated acts	Old Man's Child, Cradle of Filth, Ov Hell, Carpe Tenebrum, Brujeria, The Kovenant, Mayhem, Arcturus, Chrome Division, Code, Susperia, Dødheimsgard, Nile, Borknagar, Nachtmystium, Ragnarok, Angelcorpse, God Dethroned, Vesania, Vader, Infernal Method, Ved Buens Ende
Website	http://www.site.dimmu-borgir.com/
Members
Shagrath Silenoz Galder Daray Cyrus Gerlioz
Past members
(see below)

Dimmu Borgir ( /ˌdɪmuː ˈbɔrɡɪər/) is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu Borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir. The band has been through numerous line-up changes over the years; guitarist Silenoz and vocalist Shagrath are the only founding members remaining.^[1][2]

Biography[link]

[edit] For All Tid and Stormblåst period

Dimmu Borgir was founded in 1993 by Shagrath, Silenoz, and Tjodalv, the band released an EP in 1993 entitled Inn i evighetens mørke ("Into the Darkness of Eternity" in English). This short EP sold out within weeks, and the band followed up with the 1994 full length album For All Tid ('For All Time' in English) This album featured vocal contributions by Vicotnik of Ved Buens Ende and Dødheimsgard and Aldrahn of Dødheimsgard and Zyklon-B. The initial lineup consisted of Shagrath playing drums with Tjodalv on guitar and Silenoz contributing lead vocals. This line-up changed before the release of Stormblåst (translates to "Storm Blown") on Cacophonous Records in 1996, an album considered by many to be their finest.^[3] It is also the last album which features all lyrics written and sung in Norwegian.^[4][5] This album was criticized by Allmusic because of bad sound quality and inaccessibility to wide audience.

[edit] Enthrone Darkness Triumphant period

After Stormblåst, keyboardist Stian Aarstad left the band due to his obligation to serve in the Norwegian army, thus being unable to participate in the 1996 recording of Devil's Path. That period was also marked by the departure of bassist Brynjard Tristan and the arrival of Nagash. Stian Aarstad returned for the recording of 1997's Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. While on tour to support the album, he had trouble attending rehearsals and being on tour, and was subsequently fired.^[6] Enthrone Darkness Triumphant was a huge success for the band, and was their first release signed to Nuclear Blast, a German record label. The album was recorded in the Abyss Studios, owned by Hypocrisy's frontman Peter Tägtgren.^[7][8] After the release of Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, the band went on tour with In Flames, Dissection and other bands who had penetrated to the scene at the time.

[edit] Spiritual Black Dimensions and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia period

After the tour for Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, the band recruited new members Mustis on keyboards and Astennu on lead guitar. Dimmu Borgir's following full-length albums Spiritual Black Dimensions in 1999 and 2001's Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, both met critical acclaim.^[9][10][11] However, another line-up change occurred between the two albums; Nagash quit and was replaced by new bassist/singer ICS Vortex, and Tjodalv left due to his family commitments, and to form the subsequent band Susperia,^[12] only to be replaced with Nicholas Barker, of Cradle of Filth. Astennu was fired from his guitar duties as well, and was replaced by Galder.^[13][14][15]

[edit] Death Cult Armageddon and Stormblåst MMV period

Despite the regular video play on MTV2 and Fuse TV that their follow-up album would receive, the band stated that they were not "commercially-oriented," and instead, they 'simply wished to spread their message to more people'.^[16] In 2003, Dimmu Borgir recorded Death Cult Armageddon. Death Cult Armageddon was recorded with the Prague Philarmonic Orchestra, conducted by Adam Klemens. All orchestrations were arranged by Gaute Storaas (who had previously worked with Dimmu Borgir on the album Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia) In 2004, Dimmu Borgir performed on the mainstage at Ozzfest.

In 2005, the band did a complete re-recording of the Stormblåst album, featuring Hellhammer of Mayhem fame as the session drummer. The album also featured a DVD with a live performance from the 2004 Ozzfest tour.

[edit] In Sorte Diaboli period

Dimmu Borgir's eighth studio album, In Sorte Diaboli, was released April 24, 2007.^[17] A special edition version was released in a boxed case with a DVD, backward-printed lyrics, and a mirror. The album artwork was released on February 14, 2007 on a promotional webpage for the album. This album features the drumming of "Hellhammer" Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem. Blomberg left the band in mid tour in 2007 because of a neck injury that resulted in limited movement of his right arm. With the release of this album, Dimmu Borgir became the first black metal band with a number one album in their native country.^[18]

Shagrath performing on Gods of Metal 2007.

In 2009, members ICS Vortex and Mustis independently announced their departure from Dimmu Borgir. Mustis released a statement claiming his disfavor with the band, stating that he was not properly credited for his writing contributions to the band's music, mentioning possibly taking legal action.^[19]

Dimmu Borgir soon after confirmed the pair's dismissal from the band, releasing a statement explaining why the two were fired.^[20] Shagrath, Silenoz, and Galder wrote, "Funny then, how the new album is halfway finished written already by the rest of us without any of these guys' input, still having all those elements we're known for."^[20]

[edit] Abrahadabra period

Dimmu Borgir's ninth studio album, Abrahadabra, was released on September 24, 2010, in Germany, September 27, 2010, for the rest of Europe, and October 12, 2010 in North America.^[21] Silenoz explained that the growing periods of time between albums was because the band had stopped writing music while touring, which was affecting the quality of the music. He described the new album as having an "eerie and haunting feel to it", adding that the material is "epic", "primal", atmospheric and ambient. A promotional image released with the statement showed Shagrath returning to the keyboards.^[22] The album features an ensemble orchestra, the Kringkastingsorkestret (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra), as well as the Schola Cantorum choir, totaling more than 100 musicians and singers. Gaute Storaas, composer of the orchestral arrangements, released a statement on his role in working on the album. “Their music is epic, thematic and symphonic already from the creation; they are clearly having an orchestral approach to composing. My role in this is sometimes just to transcribe their themes, sometimes to take their ideas, tear them apart and build them back up in ways that are true to the band's intentions. The music must also be both interesting and playable for the musicians, and hopefully, meet the quality standards of the orchestral world.”

On July 8, the band confirmed that they had tapped Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (Therion, Dream Evil) to replace bassist/clean vocalist ICS Vortex on their then upcoming album, Abrahadabra, and world tour.^[23] On August 25 it was announced that Snowy Shaw has left Dimmu Borgir to rejoin Therion.^[24] On September 17, 2010 Dimmu Borgir released the song "Born Treacherous" from Abrahadabra on their official Myspace page.^[25] Then on September 24 the band announced they would stream Abrahadabra in its entirety until 7 p.m. EST that evening.^[26] The keyboards and bass are currently played by Gerlioz from Apoptygma Berzerk and Cyrus of Susperia respectively, and the clean vocals are sampled. On May 28, 2011, Dimmu Borgir gave a very special one-off show at the Oslo Spektrum with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Schola Cantorum choir. A live album and DVD of the show titled "Forces of the Northern Night" with an accompanying documentary is scheduled for release in 2012.^[27]

Influences and musical style[link]

Dimmu Borgir's older releases (since 1992 to 1999) are strongly influenced by Darkthrone, Mayhem, Bathory, Emperor, Celtic Frost, Immortal, Venom and Iron Maiden.^[1] The band became more progressive and symphonic through the years; many black metal purists consider the band's second album, Stormblåst, to be "the act's last true contribution to Black Metal".^[28] Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Dimmu Borgir's third album, "distinguished itself in two important areas, firstly forgoing their native language for English and secondly for its dramatic increase in synthesizer content".^[28] Significant experimentation started approximately around 2000, during the era of Spiritual Black Dimensions (due to the addition of Vortex's clean vocals, and the variety of musical ideas from then-new member Mustis), as well as Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia^[15] due to addition of influences from composers such as Antonín Dvořák, Enya, Richard Wagner and Frédéric Chopin.^[29] As the music strongly differed from the older, rawer black metal style, Jon "Metalion" Kristiansen called Spiritual Black Dimensions “a fine case of melodic, over produced, symphonic Metal. If you like this melodic style I can’t really think of anyone doing it better […]. No, I wouldn’t call this Black Metal. Read the interview with FUNERAL MIST for the right definition of Black Metal.”^[30]

Discography[link]

To see other releases:

Galder and ICS Vortex live on Gods of Metal Festival 2007.

Full-length albums

• For All Tid (1994)
• Stormblåst (1996)
• Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
• Spiritual Black Dimensions (1999)
• Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
• Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
• Stormblåst MMV (2005)
• In Sorte Diaboli (2007)
• Abrahadabra (2010)

Band members[link]

Current[link]

• Shagrath (Stian Tomt Thoresen) – vocals (since 1995), drums (1993–1995), guitars (1995–1997, 2005), bass (2005)
• Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) – rhythm guitars (since 1993), lead vocals (1993–1995), bass (2005)
• Galder (Tom Rune Andersen) – lead guitars (since 2000)
• Daray (Dariusz Brzozowski) – drums, percussion (since 2008)
• Cyrus (Terje Andersen) – bass guitar (since 2010)
• Gerlioz (Geir Bratland) – keyboards, synthesizer (since 2010)^[31]

Former[link]

• Tjodalv (Ian Kenneth Åkesson) – lead guitars (1993–1995), drums, percussion (1995–1999)
• Stian Aarstad – keyboards, piano (1993–1997)
• Brynjard Tristan (Ivar Tristan Lundsten) – bass (1993–1996)
• Nagash (Stian Arnesen) – bass, backing vocals (1996–1999)
• Astennu (Jamie Stinson) – lead guitars (1997–1999)
• Mustis (Øyvind Mustaparta) – keyboards, piano (1998–2009)
• ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) – bass (1999–2009), clean vocals (1998–2009)
• Nicholas Barker – drums, percussion (1999–2005)
• Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) – drums, percussion (2005–2007)

Session[link]

• Jens Petter – lead guitars (1996–1997)
• Kimberly Goss – keyboards (1997–1998)^[32]
• Aggressor (Carl-Michael Eide) – drums, percussion (1997)
• Archon – lead guitars (2000)
• Reno Kiilerich – drums, percussion (2003–2004)
• Tony Laureano – drums, percussion (2004–2005, 2007–2008)
• Secthdamon (Odd Tony Ingebrigtsen) – bass (2007)
• Snowy Shaw (Tommie Helgesson) – bass, clean vocals (2010)

Timeline[link]

 id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
 id:Vocals value:blue legend:Vocals
 id:Vocals_guitar value:magenta legend:Vocals, guitar
 id:Vocals_bass value:purple legend:Vocals, bass
 id:Bass value:red legend:Bass
 id:Keyboards value:yellow legend:Keyboards
 id:Keyboards_back value:orange legend:Keyboards, piano
 id:Drums value:gray(0.45) legend:Drums
 id:Lines value:black legend:Studio releases

 at:12/01/1994 color:black layer:back
 at:01/25/1996 color:black layer:back
 at:05/30/1997 color:black layer:back
 at:03/02/1999 color:black layer:back
 at:03/20/2001 color:black layer:back
 at:09/09/2003 color:black layer:back
 at:11/11/2005 color:black layer:back
 at:04/23/2007 color:black layer:back
 at:09/22/2010 color:black layer:back

 bar:Shagrath text:"Shagrath"
 bar:Silenoz text:"Silenoz"
 bar:Brynjard text:"Brynjard Tristan"
 bar:Stian text:"Stian Aarstad"
 bar:Tjodalv text:"Tjodalv"
 bar:Nagash text:"Nagash"
 bar:Astennu text:"Astennu"
 bar:Mustis text:"Mustis"
 bar:Simen text:"ICS Vortex"
 bar:Galder text:"Galder"
 bar:Nicholas text:"Nicholas Barker"
 bar:Hellhammer text:"Hellhammer"
 bar:Snowy text:"Snowy Shaw"
 bar:Daray  text:"Daray"
 bar:Gerlioz text:"Gerlioz"
 bar:Cyrus text:"Cyrus"

 width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Shagrath from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:Drums
 bar:Shagrath from:01/01/1995 till:end color:Vocals
 bar:Silenoz from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:Vocals_guitar
 bar:Silenoz from:01/01/1995 till:end color:Guitar
 bar:Brynjard from:01/01/1994 till:01/26/1996 color:Bass
 bar:Stian from:01/01/1994 till:08/04/1998 color:Keyboards
 bar:Tjodalv from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:Guitar
 bar:Tjodalv from:01/01/1995 till:05/10/1999 color:Drums
 bar:Nagash from:01/01/1996 till:05/10/1999 color:Vocals_bass
 bar:Astennu  from:08/04/1998 till:05/10/1999 color:Guitar
 bar:Mustis from:08/04/1998 till:03/01/2009 color:Keyboards_back
 bar:Simen from:08/01/1998 till:05/10/1999 color:Vocals
 bar:Simen from:05/10/1999 till:03/01/2009 color:Vocals_bass
 bar:Galder from:05/10/1999 till:end color:Guitar
 bar:Nicholas from:05/10/1999 till:01/01/2005 color:Drums
 bar:Hellhammer from:01/01/2005 till:05/01/2007 color:Drums
 bar:Snowy from:11/01/2009 till:09/22/2010 color:Vocals_bass
 bar:Daray from:05/01/2007 till:end color:Drums
 bar:Gerlioz from:09/24/2010 till:end color:Keyboards
 bar:Cyrus from:09/24/2010 till:end color:Bass

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dimmu Borgir

• Official website