DIMMU BORGIR have officially returned. The Norwegian black metal legends have unveiled Grand Serpent Rising, their tenth full-length studio album and first new material in eight years. Released via Nuclear Blast Records and produced by Fredrik Nordstrom, the 13-track, 70-minute opus marks a triumphant comeback for one of black metal's most ambitious and theatrical acts.
Core members Silenoz and Shagrath have steered the band towards a deliberately rawer, more ferocious sound. Where 2018's Eonian leaned heavily on orchestral grandeur and symphonic excess, Grand Serpent Rising strips back the pomp to reveal a harder, more brutal core. The result is the most authentically extreme record DIMMU BORGIR have released in years — a malevolent marathon that seethes with dark energy from start to finish.
Thematically, the album explores transformation, ego dissolution, and spiritual awakening. Standout moments include the bludgeoning 'Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel' — accompanied by a stunning official music video — the sprawling epic 'The Exonerated', and the haunted opener 'Tridentium'. Blabbermouth awarded the record a rare 9 out of 10, calling it 'a hugely powerful addition to an illustrious catalogue and an album that no other band on the planet would be able to make.'
Producer Fredrik Nordstrom has proclaimed Grand Serpent Rising to be the finest DIMMU BORGIR album yet. One of the biggest metal releases of 2026.