Dimmu Borgir - Grand Serpent Rising (2026)


Grand Serpent Rising is a clear step up from Eonian. The guitars have more weight, the symphonic elements are better integrated, and Dimmu Borgir sound less interested in pure spectacle and more focused on actual riffs again. “Ascent,” “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel” and “The Exonerated” are among their strongest tracks in years.

The main problem is still excess. At nearly seventy minutes, the album badly needs editing, and several songs rely on scale and production rather than truly memorable writing. The orchestration is impressive, but the best Dimmu Borgir records made grandeur feel dangerous; here it too often feels controlled and familiar.

Still, there is enough strong material to make this a convincing return to form. Not remotely close to their peak, but considerably better than just “solid.”


Pros
Stronger, more prominent guitar work
Several genuinely memorable tracks
Symphonic elements feel better balanced

Cons
Far too long
Some interchangeable songwriting
Still lacks the menace of their classic period




Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Country: Norway

Final Verdict: 69% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 63th / 628

Highlight: Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel


Made me think of:
Emperor
Cradle of Filth
Carach Angren

#newalbum #newalbum2026 #albumrelease #newmusic #albumoftheday #nowspinning #NowPlaying #musicdiscovery
#SymphonicBlackMetal #DimmuBorgir #Norway
#LP #Album #release

 

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