DIMMU BORGIR 'Gateways' 🔴 Vocal Coach REACTS

[@StMidium]

Fun fact: Dimmu Borgir original contacted KORK (the orchestra playing) to arrange one track on that album, but the orchestra enjoyed it so much, they ended up arranging the entire album, making it truly symphonic...

[@foxholeartist]

Even though I've reached the stage where Dimmu Borgir falls into easy listening category, I still admire amount of work they manage to put into every single track. Quality band. Deserved legendary status, IMHO

[@UltraCasualPenguin]

Pretty much everything is easy listening. I would say only harsh noise and dark ambient can't be considered easy listening.

[@foxholeartist]

@@UltraCasualPenguin I think it's all on a personal scale. For me, modern pop and hip hop often falls into hard category (so hard that I can't listen to it), but dark ambient is just calm and pleasant. "Easy listening" is more of a mood I get- like, nice sounding, but just can't feel the depth of it, and could easily do without it.

[@UltraCasualPenguin]

@@foxholeartist Ok, so you're technical blackened thrash fan aka "if it's not metal it's trash".

[@foxholeartist]

@@UltraCasualPenguin actually I mostly listen to electronics and my favorite metal band is Tiamat. Harsher electronics though, but 80s and 90s synth pop is good to. In our time and age assuming that people fall into cliches is kinda strange, TBH

[@yodieyuh]

@@UltraCasualPenguin "if it's not metal it's trash" Except for all the non-modern Hip-hop and non-modern pop they inferred they like. Perhaps they are great fans of Kool Keith but not of mumble rap. Perhaps they find great joy in Kate Bush but find Harry Styles just doesn't do it for them.

[@erwinamesz7642]

If you had chosen Mourning Palace instead of Gateways you would have seen a orchestra guy going full nuts during the song! Dimmu Borgir created a new Symphonic Black Metal fan on stage!

[@antivanti]

It's also among the most beautiful pieces of music ever

[@Silviu86syd]

You mean Harry Potter

[@themplar]

Trombone guy is AWESOME!

[@erwinamesz7642]

@@themplar a new lost soul for the Dimmu army!

[@ChristopherJames1993]

I prefer Progenies personally.

[@Lokbatch]

Being Norwegian and living in the same area as multiple of the guys from the band, it's so much fun to see someone react to this with a fresh set of ears! Dimmu is simply awesome!

[@EiBeiDieMau]

The female singer is Agnete Kjølsrud, she also did this Jinx song from league of legends and has a band called Djerv. I love her rough voice :)

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

I love HER lol

[@JoeShitTheRagMan_GravelGurdy]

Yeah she's awesome. Don't forget about Animal Alpha 😀

[@Lol_Pig]

It took me a couple times listening to warm up to her voice. But I clearly see why they went with her. And now, I love her. 🤘

[@basto1d]

One of my favorite Norwegian Metal singers!

[@TheDarkMatter96]

funny bit of trivia, this show was also aired live on tv in norway when they played the concert

[@Dulce-mn1zr]

Men, how to not love scandinavia: great economy, great Taste in music, and really nice and stunning people.

[@Thonik76]

yes Norwegian tv is awesome with the metal scene

[@TJ-qo2xu]

Welcome to the wonderfully dark world of Dimmu Borgir and enjoy your stay... you don't get to leave. This band stays with you.

[@ehizellbob6091]

Having seen Dimmu live myself, I can say this band is unlike any other band. Their live shows aren't just music. It's an experience

[@DimitriSabadie]

Also, the outro with the two voices always gives me the fucking chills.

[@LordKaos666]

Chicken skin to me 😁

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Yepppp. Also i want to take that demon queen home. She's rather special :)

[@tylerdurden2814]

@@CyberBeep_kenshi bro down bad 😂😂

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

@@tylerdurden2814 lol.

[@CherieSOL]

I was there, it is the lowest volume metal concert I have ever been on. It was my first time seeing them live! They even played my favourite song Kings of the carnival creation at the end, you cant find this on the hour long TV-special from the show. Was just missing ICS Vortex, the songs are not the same without his incredible clear vocals..

[@themplar]

As long as they play The Mourning Palace, i'm happy.

[@Metalpazallteway]

"How can the choir hear with all those drums blasting??" - With One hell of an engineer

[@JariJuslin]

Tank the Tech counted 92 people credited *outside* the band, orchestra and choir. It was a massive sound (and video) engineering undertaking.

[@chrisj7656]

Too bad System Of A Down can't get their sound engineering shit together. I've seen hundreds of bands, and SOAD was the only one that sounded fucking terrible (to the point that I couldn't tell what was being played, and I am a huge SOAD fan). That is only a few dudes playing and singing. This is an entire orchestra mic'd up. This is unreal. Props to these engineers for making it sound amazing.

[@matthoward598]

I understand how it can sound good live. But how is this recording so clean?

[@Metalpazallteway]

@@matthoward598 Either the post production crew is in the house or they have fantastic microphones with unbelievable EQ analog devices.

[@Metalpazallteway]

@@chrisj7656 SOAD doesn't sound as clean in their own albums unfortunately

[@Benobot99]

Funnily enough, that choir doesn't come close to the majestic voice of their ex-bassist ICS Vortex. I recommend their song "Kings of the Carnival Creation" at Ozzfest 2004 to hear his incredible clean singing and the intensity of this band's past music. The drumming in Gateways is like half of the speed of their older songs, haha. Nicolas Barker was such a great drummer for Dimmu Borgir.

[@Warlock_UK]

Also his work in Borknagar and Arcturus is amazing!

[@gerardohernandez344]

I kind of disagree. I mean, When Barker and Vortex where in the band was the best era (for me). Vortex, great vocals, but in this particular concept with full orchestra, a choir is way better, and also because recent music sounds better with it. That being said, Ken Lavigne is a vocal coach, so it would have been better for him to react to one song with Vortex, Hopefully he will listen to Arcturus (with Vortex).

[@LordKaos666]

I agree.

[@luislandez]

Its an amazing thing where a band would need an entire chior to replace the singing of one man. That ozzfest in 04 was beyond epic (slayer, Judas Priest ((with the return of rob halford)) and black sabbath all following Dimmu). Easily a top unforgettable concert memory!

[@mootkickee]

Vortex is a great singer, but he was sacked before they ever made gateways. I couldn’t imagine his voice on this track, because it’s already perfect with the orchestra

[@wtglb]

Dimmu Borgir (Dark Fortress) is also the name of a volcanic feature in Iceland.

[@deed5811]

You should watch the official video to experience the voice of ICS Vortex. It took a whole choir to replace him 🔥

[@odedeliyahu1756]

This album was realsed after he left the band. Progedies of a grate apocalypse is a good example for vortex's voice

[@morten3138]

It’s such a shame that the YT reaction people never react to videos with Vortex. Something like the Ozzfest 2004 performance of Progenies Of the Great Apocalypse.

[@demoncleaner80]

It's OK, I'm so glad that Vortex is now fully singing lead in both Borknagar AND Arcturus again. Who cares about Dummy Burger :P

[@victorsupreme214]

@@demoncleaner80 That's amazing I like both those bands but never knew who was in them now I know lol

[@manitobanmisanthrope2495]

@@demoncleaner80 Also his own side project.

[@helgehansen363]

Most metal-heads myself included cant even name the 1000+ subgenres in metal these days but we know what bands we like and usually what genres those bands are in unless its one of those bands that dont fit any of those genres

[@NinoMit87]

I dont care about genres. Like you said its just one big mess. I just like a band or I dont :)

[@feistyferret7299]

Most subgenres are useless classifications. Blackened-death-doom-stoner-thrash blah blah blah. Why the fuck even bother? If I like it, I like it. However, take "Melodic Death Metal" as an example and it kind of makes sense. Where it all goes in the shitter is when some fucker decides to put a band in "Swedish Blackened Melodic Death Metal". Too far m8.

[@helgehansen363]

@@feistyferret7299 yupp and thats why we got 1000+ subgenres instead of around 20 or so that would been easier to remember. And then you bands thats impossible to put into any category cause they just play whatever they want like Jinjer as one example and they sure aint alone in defying categorisation

[@feistyferret7299]

@@helgehansen363 Indeed. Kvelertak is another example of a band you can't really put into any one category, but there's also no need to really.

[@antivanti]

At a certain point the subgenres get so silly granular that you're just better off saying the name of that one band or even that single song it refers to 😂

[@michaelblank515]

Hell yes!! Now do The Mourning Palace from the same show.

[@tehgerbil]

No, watch some older live performances.

[@thomaskafjord6062]

Kevin Lavigne 2021 - "You know you're at a black metal concert when the singer has tassels on his armbands."

[@bobcoq8334]

Lol

[@Akuvision2011]

Quite

[@motometalracer]

Dimmu is the essence of symphonic black metal... truly a blessing they are in this world..

[@MARSHOMEWORLD]

I am absolutely in love with the notion that the state Endowment for the Arts helped this whole presentation and it was telecast across the country in real-time on their local television stations. Come on that's amazing

[@ikkegod]

so gald you liked it :) Agnethe, the female singer is a guest in this one but her voice gives me the shivers from the top of my head to my litletoe every time i hear this track xD

[@ikkegod]

and thank you for mention John and me in your video :)

[@branthall1787]

I remember hating her voice when I was a teen. Mid 20s now and its aged like a fine wine.

[@carlosalejandrodominguezma7695]

This is one of the best live presentations in metal ever. The whole orchestra and choir along with the stage is insane, so accomplished musicians.

[@monakanna]

It's all fun and games until you get sacrificed to Odin Allfather 😄

[@MissMortifera]

lol

[@BigSkyAtNight]

😂😂😂

[@georgeyramone1720]

Epic🤣

[@mousschokolata7262]

Oden! Guide our ships Our axes, spears and swords Guide us through storms that whip And in brutal war

[@infernaldespot2141]

Lmao!

[@99bajakid]

Lyrically it's such an empowering and inspiring song. Musically, it's absolutely fantastic.

[@TurtleOfAngst]

"Hopefully I will not be sacrificed!" Nah, this isn't an opera and he's not a Tenor. He's gonna be fiiiiiine. :D

[@stickynicks7797]

You don't know how many times I comment and copy the link for Gateways to be react from the vocal couches. Finally it happens lol

[@reservedhogs4735]

0:59 Dimmu Borgir is not in any way why Norway is known for black metal XD. Mayhem, Burzum, and Darkthrone were already legends before the Dimmu debut even came out.

[@tehgerbil]

Very true

[@morten3138]

Dimmu Borgir is more known than the big six of Norwegian BM (those you mentioned pluss Immortal, Emperor and Satyricon). So in a sense you could say Dimmu spread black metal further and to a much wider audience. But I agree. Norwegian BM was already know worldwide long before Dimmu. Also the modern sound that made Dimmu so famous, is not very representative of Norwegian BM. After Stormblåst they began mixing so many other genres into their sound. There are still a lot of BM elements in there though.

[@soapboxk2203]

As an American, I can tell you that Dimmu Borgir was the gateway (lol) band into Black Metal for loads of Americans. They were by far the most commercially successful here. Metal heads may have known the big 6 before Dimmu broke out, but Dimmu has had international success on a scale well beyond any of them.

[@LateKnight666]

@@soapboxk2203 true and that is still the case.

[@blackbeansmatter1280]

These guys are soft 😆 Thrash rules

[@trajectoryunown]

That French horn guy is my favorite part of this concert. His look of "how on earth did I manage to end up here" is expressed so perfectly.

[@AstarionsBloodbag]

I've been waiting for another upload, glad you're back, I haven't listened to Dimmu Borgir in years. Glad you've found their music, Symphonic Metal is one of my favorite sub genres. If you're a fan, I highly recommend Kamelot.

[@kindred5765]

Yes ....Ken you need some Kamelot in your life

[@themplar]

Just imagine the orchestra/choir people going home after this. "what i did tonight? you woudlnt believe me, let me show you!"

[@sayex6727]

ICS Vortex used to sing in this band, he did clean voices and was very impressive.

[@isaacbobjork7053]

As a Swede I undrrstand everything the singer said. And also they are awsome, this is one of the things I like most about our western neighbours

[@tuomaz]

These are really entertaining! Thank you man, keep it coming!😁

[@danielsimeonov3504]

Next check out Satyricon Live in the Opera! Mother North is a good start 🤓😁

[@davidviteris]

This. Incredible.

[@g54b95]

Wow. That's one hell of a jacket.

[@ms.chuckfu1088]

Because everyone should have a jacket with a full white fox pelt on each shoulder.

[@843Tank]

Welcome back! If there's a performance of Council of Wolves and Snakes from this concert, you must react to it!

[@Dr_Footbrake]

The recording of this concert pre-dates it.

[@LuisCypher4666]

Dimmu definitely has a very theatrical show. I don't think I'd buy the CD, but I'd love to see the show live!

[@djaanar5576]

Man I already loved this song but holy cow I got a whole new amount of respect for Dimmu Borgir knowing they're able to perform at that level live

[@nekane6168]

Next: Progenies of the great apocalypse (same show) You'll love the choir there

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Always reminds me of the hellraiser movies

[@themplar]

You wrote "the mourning palace" wrong.. but yeah that one too.

[@TomTomson81]

2:56 The choir doesn't hear that much from the drums because they are separated by a plexiglass pane. It is usually always done that way.

[@dmphax]

Yes, the same was done in the SepticFlesh live symphony performance.

[@erwinamesz7642]

I thought they did that to protect them from the Slayer fans?! 😜

[@mAjje88]

Hey man. So happy you liked it. Greetings from Norway. If you want more of her check "Djerv - Throne" that is her. And Dimmu has so many awesome tracks i cant even start. Have a good day!

[@vigaprimuz]

Dimmu Borgir the place is located in Iceland, at Mývatn a pretty fantastic place if you ever take the trip it is definitely worth the stop. and translates into Dark Cities in Icelandic.

[@Adam-dv2je]

I’d love to listen to Dimmu. They are exactly what I want when I listen to Symphonic Metal. However, I don’t listen to Black Metal. But dang, they are so good and fun to watch.

[@ModoTronic666]

I love your reactions. You're so classy and innocent and are blown away by some pretty crazy music. I like your breakdowns too.

[@inertialobserver5840]

That concert is the best concert I've ever been to, by far!

[@LuukPlasmeyer]

Hey Ken, so happy you're amazed by the intersection off classical and black metal influences. I think another great example is this rendition of Die By My Hand by Satyricon, with the Royal Norse Opera Chorus kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH3IZ6GEbqtnbNk. A lot of black metal, especially those within the second wave of Norwegian Black Metal (inc. the big three: Dimmu Borgir, Emperor and Satyricon) used a lot of synth sounds to emulate the sounds that the choir vocalises here. What I find very interesting is that Satyricon was invited by the Chorus to participate in a special live event, which sounded great. Both parties were very excited for this project. There is a lot of mutual respect visible during this concert. In other songs there are parts where you can see the conductor just 'give up' and hand the choir over to the analogue atomic clock named Frost beating on the drums.

[@mattj1341]

Wow ! didn't expect you to react to Dimmu Borgir \m/ these guys are awesome

[@WWRTheJudge]

⚒️🤘🏻DIMMU BORGIR🤘🏻⚒️ Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮

[@nightmaster5593]

Please do more Dimmu Borgir! this was an awesome reaction!

[@kolagrab]

"Enjoying the spectacle" was the only thing we expected of you with this clip xD

[@MrRemorseless]

6:20 absolutely love her range. Such beautiful sounds 😍

[@PInnHeAd]

The best thing about kens reactions is his ability to "swear" cleanly and giving some hilarious comparisons, alex terrible being built like a cement truck is one, and also rasputins ramrod! Secondly it is how neutral and open minded his reactions to all styles of music is, one of few reaction channels that i stand behind 100%!

[@jumnunyobeezwax4795]

Five minutes into this video and the vocal coach has talked about boots, tassels, forehead veins, and............and a french horn player looking "scared". Sweet video.

[@trulsbye8137]

every time i see someone react to this i post this info. this was brodcasted on national television. the orhcestra and cioir is the national orhcestra and national chiore of norway. welcome to a national treasure!

[@EngelinZivilBO]

Saw them with orchestra live in wacken and a fan since then .. never thought I would appreciate music like that.. now I'm addicted to it

[@ElRuinero]

I now understand the cliche about clicking so fast

[@Hurricane000007]

I remember hearing the studio version of this for the first time, I thought it was really cool. Agnete (the female singer) is not in Dimmu Borgir, but she was on the album for that song specifically. She joined Dimmu Borgir for this live show with an orchestra and choir in Oslo, Norway. The show was also broadcasted live on TV I believe. Edit: On national funded TV!

[@arturogalleguillos5075]

dimmu yea yea yea awesome plis more dimmu great reaccion take care man

[@randalladams7692]

Dude all there stuff js like that need to do more by them good job on this one keep rocking

[@MissMortifera]

Love watching your reactions.

[@ZettaMcByte]

Met the band a couple of times when going out here in the city of Oslo. Pretty cool guys :)

[@esdras7556]

I love symphonic Metal. I think it's so creative sub genre

[@johnnyd5186]

Thank you for this reaction video, Mr. Lavigne. As a long-time Jimmy Burger fan, this puts a smile on my face. On a side note: if you guys want a real demonstration of ICS Vortex awesome vocals, you will find it in a song called "The Insight and the Catharsis" from my favorite album "Spiritual Black Dimensions". Subscribed!

[@themplar]

Shagrath his vocals are really amazing. i love the sound, and love the fact that if i pay a little attention i can actually understand what he is saying. even in his older style of vocals. If you have the chance check out "the mourning palace" live @ wacken. its just so so so freakisly amazing.

[@12Prophet]

Fun fact about the band, they had to get an entire choir to replace to voice of their former bass guitarist for his parts during songs. ICS Vortex, a choir in one body.

[@madelen9279]

How is this even real! Never thought you’d react to this amazing band from my country. The suggested song is by far their best though, Mourning Palace live a Wacken is in my opinion 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@madelen9279]

Also Shagrath has a pretty unique voice. Can’t really think of anyone doing it like he does.

[@neilsimkins4074]

Good to have you back.

[@Bathrobeguy91]

Now that u are in the rabit hole call black metal, u should check out Cradle of filth- Cruelty Brought the orchids. The live version from the Astoria in 1998. Dani filth is probably the best extreme metal singer in the world, amazing range.

[@danielkrause1825]

And Progenis of the great Apocalyps - Dimmur Borgir is even better ^^

[@VolatileSupernova]

Ahh Dimmu Borgir, that brings me back to my high school days! I was one of the only non-pop genre fans in my small school, people thought I was a killer or something lol. I of course played it up on purpose because it got me attention :p

[@florian_metalgandalf]

Great reaction... and now that you are into these symphonic black metal guys I recommend to listen to "Dimmu Borgir - The Insight Ind The Catharsis [Live In Wacken 2007]". The former bass player and 2nd. vocalist Vortex is killing it. You will truly be surprised about his vocals.

[@miladtaleghani234]

Yasss... i've been waiting for this sir.

[@ryanclark3445]

omg i love Dimmu how did i miss this vid

[@Mrdresden]

I'd recommend checking out the Icelandic Skálmöld and their concert with the Icelandic Symphony

[@joachimhorten]

Greetings from Norway🙂. 3:50 An hopefully i will not be sacrificed😂... Priceless!

[@josemariamartinezdeartolab9895]

Welcome back!

[@kheldaur2107]

Ken the Metalhead is always fun to watch

[@nairuna7436]

hey, can u listen to the German Metal Dark Rock Band Lord of the Lost? The vocalist has an amazing voice! and the instrumentalist are great too. Sometimes they do their metal songs in classic style. It's so great. Songs I would recommend: Raining Stars or Morgana.

[@Toncibald]

One of my favourite bands of all time ❤

[@samirnietsch5531]

Now you basically have to watch this entire dvd. I had a blast showing this to my non metal-head dad😂😂

[@theyapsta]

"Ok Mr French Horn player... 7 years at the academy has bought you to this point".😂😂😂😂

[@DimitriSabadie]

Great reaction! If you like symphonic metal, you should have a look at Septicflesh.

[@dmphax]

YES!!!!

[@YeahResident]

I think Emperor is the best symphonic black metal

[@andyventures6574]

Yes yes. MMXIX.

[@andyventures6574]

@@dmphax YES

[@DimitriSabadie]

@@andyventures6574 Dogma of Prometheus 😍

[@oliveroliver7330]

It’s magic. Von Karajan would love to resurrect and conduct this piece of art 🥰

[@antonioamarillas1953]

Gran video! Reacción también para Dimmu borgir - Mourning palace!

[@putin4379]

i don't usually watch react videos of any type but when you're smoking, you seem to enjoy it

[@Avertia]

Incredible voice of Agnete. Also Shagrath are very talented. Fun to hear your opinion on some norwegian metal. Cheers

[@rodionkhabibulin8326]

Вау, он правильно назвал название группы!. Впечатляет!

[@thetravellingardnut9090]

I’d love to see you react to Linkin Park’s Official Given Up video and, Chester Bennington’s 18 second long fry scream.

[@chavo8989]

Oh sh#t!! I was wondering if you were gonna do this one!! This band is so awesome. The male vocalist is called Shagrath and the female vocalist is Agnete Kjølsrud she's from a band called Djerv

[@luuk6718]

This piece is so epic

[@MountainMetal]

More!

[@asbjrnfossmo1589]

This was live. In this particular video, the pitch of the guest singer was doctored. The original live broadcast was different; she was flat for most of the song.

[@mrcake4668]

Dimmuborgir, roughly "the dark city" or "the dark castles", is a large lava area east of Lake Mývatn in northern Iceland. Here are caves and rock formations that are remnants of previous volcanic activity. In Icelandic folklore, Dimmuborgir is said to be the entrance to hell.

[@hiufernando7340]

Great reaction. Anyway, can i request your reaction to superb band from japan? The band is call "Lovebites" They all Beautiful Princesses metal band. But they are really really World class musicians. And they have a lot fans too. The song is "Winds of Transylvania" Hope you check out, and can enjoy it too. Big thanks🙏

[@adrianmartinez3242]

Your doing a really awesome and I really like your reaction opinion. 😂👏🔥

[@Camicore1]

This is great! 😁 //C~🇸🇪

[@tehgerbil]

Hey fella, good stuff. There's a lot more in the black metal area to explore. Try Immortal as well! Dimmu are really special to see live, even if Hellhammer couldn't make Wacken the year I saw them there.

[@warphalak]

Yes! Tassels, white fur and tails are so black metal!

[@puertoricoman9169]

To truly appreciate Dimmu Borgir at its pinnacle check out progenies of the great apocalypse in 2004 at ozzfest....ICS Vortex has a voice that can shake all of planes of existence 🤘🤘🤘

[@ninisunshine530]

React Progenies Of The Great Apocaypse pleas, the studio version has a very interesting vocal from the former bassist, I highly recommend it and is one of the most famous of the band :)

[@bloodysmurf]

I feel like Ken's primary prep for these videos is to draft a list of quirky exclamations like "Good Gumbo!" :)