With a name that roughly translates to "dark cities", Norway's Dimmu Borgir have been constructing foreboding black metal landscapes since 1993. Initially influenced by purists like Mayhem and Bathory, the band have evolved their sound over the years. Later albums are sweeping symphonic black metal epics, with raging guitars doing battle with an array of symphonic flourishes, including synthesizers. One thing that has never changed is frontman Shagrath, whose gravel-throated vocals and demonic persona have kept things consistently evil.