DIMMU BORGIR. Finally … a status report.

Norwegian Black Metal masters DIMMU BORGIR may have been silent this year so far, but there is of course a lot going on behind the scenes, as the band revealed in a statement. Here are their currents plans:

DIMMU BORGIR will play four festival shows this year.

About the vacant drummer position, they decided “at least for the time being, not to invite a new drummer on a permanent basis. Tony Laureano from NILE will join us for all abovementioned festivals this summer, while MAYHEM's Hellhammer has offered his services for the new full-length album. Writing will begin August and September sometime. It'll take the time it needs, so don't expect any release sooner than second half of 2006, at earliest. We have not yet decided who will be supervising/co-producing our next studio effort, but what we do know is that it'll most likely be a full story/concept album. We feel it's time to do something 'else,' starting on scratch exploring fresh territory, challenge ourselves.”

Another project on the album front is the re-recording of “Stormblast” (1996), which is underway in Abyss Studios with Peter Tägtgren. Hellhammer will be onboard here also. The new release, due before the end of the year, will contain “extra material and previously unreleased stuff”. Apart from that, all members are involved in other bands/projects like CHROME DIVISION, INSIDIOUS DISEASE, ARCTURUS, and OLD MAN'S CHILD.