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DIMMU BORGIR's SILENOZ: “I'm totally against any type of censorship”

11-12-2023

In a new interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) was asked what he thinks about artists using their platforms to voice their political opinions. He responded: “Yeah, I think it’s everything in its place. I don’t think maybe artists should focus too much on politics, but at the same time, people shouldn’t, or artists shouldn’t be afraid to speak their minds either, because that’s the good thing about musicians and whatever other artists there are — they’re creative beings. I read someone that if you’re eligible to vote, then why shouldn’t you be able to speak your opinion about stuff?”

He continued: “I’m totally against any type of censorship or anything like that bullshit. I think people should be allowed to say whatever they want. It’s like when you do physical harm and stuff, that’s a totally different ballgame. But everybody should be able to say what they want. And if people are offended, then it’s the problem of the people that is getting offended. You have the choice if you want to be offended or not, in my eyes.”

Silenoz recently spoke to FaceCulture about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band’s follow-up to 2018’s “Eonian” album. Regarding why it is taking so long for DIMMU BORGIR to release new music (“Eonian” was the first DIMMU album in eight years),Silenoz said: “Well, it could have been fairly easy to do ‘Enthrone Darkness Triumphant Part Two’, and we could have done albums like that every third year or second year, but, to be honest, what would be the point in that, to have an album almost identical to what some fans classify as a classic. So that would be the easy way out and the path of least resistance. And that would also, in my eyes, be a selling-out point because you would do something that’s less challenging and cash in on that. But that’s not how we have worked ever; we never compromised and we always take the time we feel is needed to finish an album. If it takes eight years as it did now — it shouldn’t have done that, obviously — but it is what it is. An album is finished when it’s finished.”

Regarding a possible timeline for the release of the next DIMMU BORGIR album, Silenoz said: “We have sort of a timeline. I think that’s good, but it shouldn’t be set in stone, but I think it’s good to have a timeframe to work towards, at least when you start getting six, seven, eight songs, as we’re up in now, and demoed with vocals and all that stuff. And we picked up the process now, so it’s looking good, yeah. It’s sounding good, I should say.”

DIMMU BORGIR have released their cover version of the DEEP PURPLE classic “Perfect Strangers”. The song is taken from DIMMU BORGIR‘s upcoming collection of cover songs, “Inspiratio Profanus”, which will be made available on December 8 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Watch “Perfect Strangers” below.

DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) comments: “The idea of doing ‘Perfect Strangers’ came about quite a while before we actually got around to recording it. It’s a known song by a very well-known band that has influenced many to pick up an instrument. I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t like DEEP PURPLE?! We incorporated our little twist to it while at the same time wanted to stay close to the original. But perhaps it is the more obvious aspects that come to mind when hearing it; the integration between the main musical elements that we also made use of since the beginning like keyboards and guitars.”

Watch the previously released VENOM cover of ‘Black Metal’ below.

Silenoz comments about the album Inspiratio Profanus: “We’re pleased to announce the Inspiratio Profanus release! We thought it was about time to finally compile the cover songs we’ve done over the years and give these renditions an updated mastering, all in one package, highlighting some of our many influences!”
 
Silenoz states about the first song ‘Black Metal’: “Black Metal, the track and its origin, features something really primeval, raw and unhinged. There is lawlessness and danger connected to it. We did our best to capture the spirit of the ancient gods’ rock ’n roll 24 years later. Did we do it justice? I think so.”             

Pre-Order Inspiratio Profanus + listen to ‘Black Metal’ AT THIS LOCATION.

Inspiratio Profanus Tracklist:
1. Black Metal (Venom)
2. Satan My Master (Bathory)
3. Dead Men Don’t Rape (G.G.F.H.)
4. Nocturnal Fear (Celtic Frost)
5. Burn In Hell (Twisted Sister)
6. Perfect Strangers (Deep Purple)
7. Metal Heart (Accept)
8. Nocturnal Fear (Celtically Processed)  (Celtic Frost)

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