All the symphonic metal majesty and dark pathos of the Norwegian band’s most celebrated efforts. Completed during the Year of the Snake, Grand Serpent Rising is Dimmu Borgir’s first album of new material in nearly a decade. Despite losing guitarist Tom “Galder” Orre in 2024 (he left to resurrect his own band, Old Man’s Child), founding duo Stian “Shagrath” Thoresen (vocals/keys) and Sven “Silenoz” Kopperud (guitars) haven’t lost a step. Grand Serpent has all the symphonic metal majesty and dark pathos of the Norwegian band’s most celebrated efforts, but with a slightly more stripped-down approach than previous outings. The frenzied “Ascent” invokes the ouroboros as a symbol for the circle of life as Silenoz slices off violent riffs and lays down a deadly solo. “The Qryptfarer” kicks off with a spacey prog intro before descending into black-metal hellfire and Victorian piano breaks. “Phantom of the Nemesis” rises from the abyss with an ’80s horror atmosphere that aligns with the band’s Hellraiser sensibility. “The Exonerated” and “Recognizant” are back-to-back slash-and-burn epics featuring impressive drum performances from Dariusz “Daray” Brzozowski. The album is bookended by two cinematic instrumentals, “Tridentium” and “Gjoll,” both of which add a sense of high drama to the proceedings. Lyrically, Grand Serpent explores themes of transformation and ego death. and, as the band says, “shedding the old self in pursuit of one’s true potential.” In a throwback to Dimmu’s early days, lead single “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel” sees Shagrath performing in the band’s native tongue, a feat he repeats on the rousing “Slik Minnes en Alkymist.” It’s all of a piece for one of Norway’s most prominent metal institutions.