Abrahadabra

About

"Abrahadabra" is the eighth studio album by Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released in 2010. The album's first single, "Gateways", was released on 20 August 2010 in Europe and on 24 August 2010 in North America. A music video for the song was released on 14 September 2010 and featured Agnete Kjølsrud, vocalist of the band Djerv. On 17 September 2010, the track "Born Treacherous" was made available for streaming on the band's official Myspace page. One week later, the band streamed the album in its entirety for a limited period prior to its release. The album features drummer Daray and additional keyboard contributions by Gerlioz. Production of the album lasted approximately eleven month. Guitarist Silenoz stated that the increased time between albums resulted from the band's decision to stop composing music while touring, in order to focus on improving the quality of the material. He described the album's sound as atmospheric, ambient, epic, and primal, with an "eerie and haunting" atmosphere. Promotional material released during production also indicated the return of vocalist Shagrath to keyboard dutie. The album includes orchestral arrangements performed by the Kringkastingsorkestret, also known as the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and choral performances by the Schola Cantorum choir, involving more than 100 musicians and singers in total. The orchestral arrangements were composed by Gaute Storaa, who stated that the band's music already possessed a thematic and symphonic structure during the writing proce. According to Storaa, his work involved both transcription and reinterpretation of the band's material while adapting it for orchestral performance. The album title, "Abrahadabra", originates from the writings of English occultist Aleister Crowley, specifically "Liber AL vel Legis", also known as "The Book of the Law". Crowley translated the term as "I will create as I speak". The album marked the second release by the band to depart from its previous convention of using three-word album title. Silenoz stated that the change reflected developments in the band's musical direction, lyrical theme, and line-up. The cover artwork was created by artist Joachim Luetke. Luetke described the imagery as icy, bleak, wintery, and post-industrial. He also stated that the central mask-like figure was inspired by the Elder Gods from the works of H. P. Lovecraft. Following the album's release, the band announced that future pressings would feature an alternative cover design. According to guitarists Silenoz and Galder, the album's musical style incorporates elements associated with the band's earlier albums "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia" and "Death Cult Armageddon", while placing greater emphasis on orchestral arrangement. .

via Last.fm

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