DIMMU BORGIR, HULDER In Los Angeles, CA With Photos!

Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 10:57 AM

By Francisco Zamudio, Metal X Candy

The Grand Serpent Rising Tour Concludes At Novo On August 23, 2026

All Live Photos By Mando / @dreamofmirrorsphotos

Nearing the end of a brutal (and not in a good way) heatwave, Los Angeles was the last stop for Norwegian Symphonic Black Metal outfit DIMMU BORGIR who was out promoting their new album “Grand Serpent Rising” (read my review here: https://www.knac.com/news/albums/dimmu-borgir-grand-serpent-rising/). A touring bill that at one point included Swedish Death Metal group HYPOCRISY but unfortunately due to the continued hidden agenda to kill music, their visas were not granted and had to drop out. Those on the east coast, at least for 2 dates, had the pleasure of New York’s SUFFOCATION on the bill. So what became a 2 band bill included American Black Metal group HULDER, a new group from Washington that has garnered some great attention and seeing it firsthand, I totally understand why.

Hulder herself is the frontwoman of the group, reinforcing my belief in this New Wave of Femme Fatale Metal that proves that the Women in Metal are not only giving the guys a run for their money but many are leaving them in the dust, as she was riffing away on guitar belting out great vocals behind her mic-stand disguised as dead tree branches. Supported by bassist Necreon whose extremely long mane nearly hit the ground while windmill-headbanging through the set. Along with Keld on guitar dishing out great solos and Vapula on drums, shedding wood-chips with great precision, all giving such a tight sound. Their set was one I was looking forward to seeing after hearing good things from reliable sources. This lineup was also on the recently released album “Verbolgen” (Season OF Mist) and their impactful set of 6 songs included ‘...And We Shall Sing’ and ‘View From Nemeton’ from that album, as well as ‘Vessel of Suffering’ and from the same album, the title track from her 2024 release “Verses in Oath”. Other songs in their set included cuts from the EPs “The Eternal Fanfare” and “A Beacon From Darkened Skies” which they started their set with. No gimmicks or bullshit stage antics, HULDER is straight ahead and to the point, especially when she expressed herself to the few in front that couldn't put their camera phones down, telling everyone “enjoy the fuckin show!”. Very impressive show by them indeed.

It had been 8 years since Norway Legends DIMMU BORGIR were in the states. With a set going as far back as 1996 , to latest cuts from the new album, starting out their set with a new one in ‘Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel’, along with a set that would go as far back as 1996 with the title track “Stormblast”. Other songs from “Grand Serpent Rising’ were ‘As Seen In The Unseen’ and ‘Ascent’. Following up their opener with a certain crowd favorite ‘Mourning Palace’ off “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”, considered one of their best albums, this classic really set the crowd off to turn the energy way up. Next we’d get hit with ‘Kings of the Carnival Creation’, 1 of 2 from the album “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia”, with the other being ‘Puritania’ coming late in the set. Before jumping into ‘Council of Wolves and Snakes’, from the album “Eonian”, drummer Daray and vocalist Shagrath would give us some tribal drum play together with a large gong drum that was snuck in and out for Shagrath. Other songs in their amazing setlist included 2 cuts from “Spiritual Black Dimensions” with ‘Reptile’ and ‘The Insight and the Catharsis’, ‘The Serpentine Offering’ from “In Sorte Diaboli”, From “Abrahadabra”, Gateways. And closing out their outstanding show as well as the end of this highly anticipated tour as Los Angeles was the final night, the ended with ‘Progenies of the Great Apocalypse’.

While many will miss the presence of Mustis who served behind the keyboard from 1998 to 2009, and Vortex on bass from 1999 to 2009, Gerlioz’ keyboard playing and bass by Victor Brandt provide enough haunting and rumbling to fill the void. From the great guitar work between beret-wearing Silenoz and and a solo by Damage, and the tasty precision drumming of Daray, all topped off with Shagrath’s 1 of kind vocal and stage presence with great sound all night, clarity in everything coming from the stage and the electrifying energy from the crowd who was anticipating their return for nearly a decade, plus a fun pre-game with friends at the nearby Yardhouse (shout-out to the San Diego Metal Family whose large group sat across from us), the whole evening makes this one of the concerts of the year and one to be remembered.

HULDER