DIMMU BORGIR Announces New Guitarist Kjell Åge “Damage” Karlsen Ahead of Tons of Rock Festival

Summary

• Dimmu Borgir welcomes guitarist Kjell Åge ‘Damage’ Karlsen, who debuted live at Tons of Rock in Oslo on June 27.
• Galder officially exited the band in 2024 to revive his project Old Man’s Child after nearly two decades with Dimmu Borgir.
• The band’s current lineup includes two core members and four session musicians, with recent tours and releases like Inspiratio Profanus keeping them active.

Norwegian metal band Dimmu Borgir has a new guitarist. The group announced that Kjell Åge “Damage” Karlsen has joined their lineup. He played his first show with the band on June 27 at the Tons of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway (watch it below).

Karlsen is no stranger to working with frontman Shagrath (real name Stian Tomt Thoresen). The two previously played together in the Norwegian rock band Chrome Division.

In a social media post, the band said, “We’re excited to proudly welcome Damage to the team, and we’re all looking forward to sharing the stage with him this summer and onwards.” They also mentioned that rehearsals with Karlsen over the past few months had been going well.

The new addition comes after longtime guitarist Galder left the band in 2024. He stepped away to focus on his other project, Old Man’s Child. Galder (real name Thomas Rune Andersen) had been with Dimmu Borgir for many years and played his final show with them on August 17, 2024, at Dynamo Metal Fest in the Netherlands.

Galder is known as a founding member of Old Man’s Child, a melodic black metal band that released multiple albums between 1994 and 2009.

Dimmu Borgir is currently made up of two main members: Shagrath, who handles vocals, and Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) on rhythm guitar. They are joined live by several session musicians, including Karlsen on guitar, Dariusz “Daray” Brzozowski on drums, Geir “Gerlioz” Bratland on keyboards, and Victor Brandt on bass.

The band’s most recent studio album, Eonian, was released in 2018. That record marked their 25th anniversary and followed 2010’s Abrahadabra. Since then, they’ve continued to perform internationally at major events like Wacken Open Air and Hellfest.

In December 2023, they released a covers collection titled Inspiratio Profanus through Nuclear Blast Records. The release featured versions of songs by Venom, Deep Purple, Twisted Sister, Celtic Frost, and others. Tracks included “Black Metal”, “Perfect Strangers”, and “Burn in Hell”.

For fans wondering what comes next, Dimmu Borgir seems focused on touring and maintaining momentum with their updated live lineup.

About Dimmu Borgir

Dimmu Borgir is a metal band from Norway known for blending elements of black metal with orchestral and symphonic arrangements.

Formed in 1993, the group quickly gained international attention for its dark aesthetic, elaborate stage shows, and use of atmospheric keyboards layered with aggressive guitar riffs and harsh vocals.

Over the years, the band has undergone several lineup changes, but founding members Shagrath (vocals) and Silenoz (guitar) have remained central figures.

Their music often incorporates themes of mythology, darkness, and anti-religious imagery, though with a focus on theatrical presentation rather than direct provocation.

Albums like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997), Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001), and Death Cult Armageddon (2003) played key roles in bringing black metal influences to broader audiences.

Later works such as Abrahadabra and Eonian continued this symphonic direction with larger-scale production and orchestration.

The band is associated with Nuclear Blast Records and has performed at major international festivals including Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, and Download Festival.

While rooted in black metal, their sound has evolved to include more cinematic and polished elements, positioning them as one of the more accessible acts within the extreme metal scene.

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