Ex-APOPTYGMA BERZERK Keyboardist Rumored To Have Joined DIMMU BORGIR's Touring Lineup

September 5, 2010

Geir Bratland, the Oslo, Norway-based keyboardist who has previously played with APOPTYGMA BERZERK and THE KOVENANT, is rumored to have joined the touring lineup of the Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR. Bratland (pictured below) is also believed be featured on DIMMU BORGIR's upcoming ninth album, "Abrahadabra", and can be seen in the video for the CD's first single, "Gateways", which made its unofficial online debut earlier today (Sunday, September 5). Also making an appearance in the clip is Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (real name: Tommie Helgesson; THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME),who announced his departure from DIMMU BORGIR's touring lineup on August 25 — just one day after confirming that he was tapped by the band to replace bassist/vocalist ICS Vortex during the recording sessions for "Abrahadabra" and the subsequent world tour. Shaw has since rejoined Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION.

ICS Vortex and keyboardist Mustis (real name: Øyvind Mustaparta) were fired from DIMMU BORGIR in August 2009. The remaining members of the band issued a statement at the time downplaying the impact that ICS Vortex and Mustis' departures would have on the sound of DIMMU BORGIR's next album, insisting that "the creative force in the band is highly intact, perhaps even more so than ever."

"Gateways" is now available for purchase via iTunes.

"Abrahadabra" will be released in Germany on September 24, in the rest of Europe on September 27, and in North America on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book of the Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.

Photo below courtesy of Geir Bratland's MySpace page

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