Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR proudly announce their collaboration with Norwegian composer and Berklee College of Music summa cum laude alumnus Gaute Storaas in addition to the 51 members of KORK (the Norwegian Radio Orchestra) and the 38-member Schola Cantorum Choir for their as-yet-untitled new album.

To date, over 101 musicians have lent their talents to the making of the album.

Composer Gaute Storaas shares some insight on what it’s like to work with DIMMU BORGIR:

“There have been several attempts of dressing up rock bands in suits, bow ties, and symphonic splendor – to various degrees of success. Working with DIMMU BORGIR is quite different. Their music is epic, thematic and symphonic already from the creation; they are clearly having an orchestral approach to composing.

My role in this is sometimes just to transcribe their themes, sometimes to take their ideas, tear them apart and build them back up in ways that are true to the band’s intentions. The music must also be both interesting and playable for the musicians, and hopefully, meet the quality standards of the orchestral world.”

DIMMU BORGIR‘s ninth studio album will be released in Germany on October 8th, in the rest of Europe on October 11th, and in North America on October 12th.