Courtesy photo Use the band members' names to deduce the sound of Dimmu Borgir (from left): Silenoz, Hellhammer, I.C.S. Vortex, Mustis, Galder, Shagrath (front).

It's not often that Norwegian black metal bands find mainstream success in the U.S., but that didn't stop Dimmu Borgir from recently making quite the impact on the Billboard Top 200 charts.

The band's latest release, In Sorte Diaboli, which was released on April 24, debuted at No. 43 on the charts with about 14,000 units sold in the first week. It also debuted at No. 1 in the band's native Norway, marking the first time in history that a black metal band had debuted in that position anywhere in the world. In support of In Sorte Diaboli, Dimmu Borgir is playing a nationwide tour, which includes a date at Graham Central Station on Sunday, May 27. Dimmu Borgir guitarist Silenoz recently chatted with 210SA.
 

When did you start touring the U.S., and how have the crowds responded?
The first tour we did was in '99, and we've played five or six tours here. Every time we play, the fan base increases, and you see new faces, play bigger places. 

What does Dimmu Borgir mean?
It's an Icelandic name that directly translates to English to mean “dark cities.” Legends say in Iceland that it's supposed to be one of the gates to Hell, so I guess that's metal enough.

How did the band come to exist?
I met our lead singer (Shagrath) at college in '92 or '93, and we were basically the only ones that dressed the same and listened to the same type of obscure music. It all took shape from there. We got going in the local society, started recording albums, got in touch with small labels. We just wanted to have a CD out, our own album, so we jumped at the first offer that came our way. Back then, if we knew the things we know now, we probably would have done it differently. But then again, if we hadn't done it, I would not be talking to you right now.

What can fans who have heard your music but never seen you live expect?
A lot of planning goes into it. You need an hour just to get dressed and get ready and put yourself in the right mood. It's kind of like a ritual, and it's always been like that. Hopefully fans get a feeling of escapism, forget their worries and transform into the same mood that we are in.

What kind of music did you grow up with?
Just regular old-school death and black metal stuff. Overall, it had a dark feeling to us, and it had an image to it. We were looking for something not only extreme musically, but also wanted something more than just music. That's how we formed this band.

You seem like a regular guy. Do you conduct yourself offstage in a way that might surprise some people?
I've heard that quite a few times, that people expect us to be aggressive. We're pretty much normal guys. It's the way we use the music as an outlet for emotions and feelings that other people would probably beat up their wife or go out and shoot someone. It's way more constructive and healthy for us.

Has your view of the black metal scene changed as you've grown older?
I see it from a different perspective. It's not black and white anymore, but I guess that's how it is for everyone as you get older. Back in the day, we lived up to it, where it was a like a different world kind of thing. I could say we were pretty much detached from reality in our lives, but we managed to stay out of trouble.