Dimmu Borgir - Inspiratio Profanus Review

When I received Dimmu Borgir “Inspiratio Profanus” pack I got very excited because it would be the very first time to review such a band as Dimmu Borgir. As they say the first time is unforgettable. Excited or not I have some procedures when I receive an album like this that is to play by the rules. So, I did as Nuclear Blast Records recommends us to, that is, to wait and review the album the nearest the release date. Most times, I prefer not to search for information about the album. I don’t want that to get any biases about it. I believe the information we read about an album influences what one can write about it. So, I’d rather not. Then, today, the release date, I put the album to play. What was my surprise when I heard the first chords of Venom’s “Black Metal”! I have to say I got astonished because in one’s hand, “Black Metal” is considered the song that opened the gates of hell to name one of the most deliberately music genre inspired on the occult, not to say satanic. On the other hand, Black Metal purists don’t consider Venom a Black Metal band. Ironically, Dimmu Borgir, one of the cannons of Black Metal covered their most iconic song.

There are times in a band’s career that the band decides to look back to record a cover album with the songs that inspired them. Coming to think of it, the tittle “Inspiratio Profanus” comes naturally – inspiration profanus means profane inspiration. The album is about all the profane inspirations that made Dimmu Borgir what they are. Surprisingly, there are names I would never think they would be here. Others are natural choices as Celtic Frost – “Nocturnal Fear” – and Bathory – “Satan My Master.” However, Twisted Sister, Deep Purple and G.G.F.H. would never cross my mind to be as an inspiration to Dimmu Borgir not even the most profane I could think of. To some extent, Accept’s “Metal Heart” makes a lot of sense to me because Accept were a huge influence to many European bands in the 1980’s.

Musicwise, Dimmu Borgir decided to cover the songs as near as possible their originals just adding the band’s black touch. Their eerie cover of Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers” is certainly the one that surprised the most as it seems to have been done by a bunch of mocking demons. Really! Just check it out. From where I’m standing, Venom’s “Black Metal” received the respect it deserves as all the other songs covered here. With Shagrath’s vocals Twisted Sister’s “Burn in Hell” acquired the hellish mood it may lack, even though, I really the song with the sisters, but Dimmu Borgir gave it the sickiest mood ever.

Maybe “Inspiratio Profanus” won’t inspire the most hardcore Dimmu Borgir’s fan as it would be natural coming to think of it. Though I am prone to think cover albums are generally recorded to fill in the blacks of a contract, “Inspiratio Profanus” is a good album. It is indeed.

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