The winners of the iHeartRadio Awards are being revealed, and rock and alternative are being celebrated in a big way.
Twenty One Pilots are the winners of Alternative Artist of the Year, in which they came up against Linkin Park, Green Day, Sublime and Cage The Elephant.
Drummer Josh Dun accepted the award and paid tribute to the fans, stating, “Thank you to all of you guys for all the support, calling in and requesting songs, coming to shows and liking our band. It really means a lot to us, so thank you very much.”
Whilst Linkin Park have picked up Rock Song of the Year for ‘Heavy Is The Crown’. It was up against ‘Afterlife’ by Evanescence, ‘Dance, Kid, Dance’ by Shinedown, ‘Even If It Kills Me’ by Papa Roach and ‘Bad Guy’ by Falling In Reverse.
Emily Armstrong and Mike Shinoda accepted the award, simply saying, “We love you guys and hope to see you soon.”
There are still awards to be announced when the show kicks off at 8pm EST.
There is Alternative Song Of The Year with Twenty One Pilots’ ‘The Contract’ celebrated alongside Green Day’s ‘One Eyed Bastard’, Sombr’s ‘Back To Friends’, Sublime’s ‘Ensenada’ and Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’.
Then there is Rock Artist Of The Year, which is between Linkin Park, Shinedown, Sleep Token, Papa Roach and Three Days Grace.
And finally, Best New Artist for Rock, which is made up of Spiritbox, Poppy, Sleep Theory, Architects and Return To Dust.
Eight years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Eonian, Norwegian symphonic black metal titans Dimmu Borgir return with a towering new opus: Grand Serpent Rising. Set for release on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records, the album delivers thirteen punishing yet remarkably diverse tracks that reaffirm the band’s status as one of the most formidable forces in extreme music.
Alongside the album announcement, the band unveils a cinematic video for the track ‘Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel’. Sung in Norwegian, the song stands as a punishing epic rooted in themes of heritage and bloodline – the passing of something essential from one generation to the next.
Shagrath comments: “I truly feel we’ve outdone ourselves musically on this album. It’s been a long and demanding process, but seeing how it all came together makes it incredibly rewarding. Grand Serpent Rising reflects every era of Dimmu Borgir – This album carries echoes of every chapter of Dimmu Borgir’s legacy – I believe our fans will recognize that, and find something within it that truly resonates.”
Even the sheer weight of the album title speaks volumes.
“It fits perfectly,” guitarist Silenoz explains. “Dimmu Borgir is a leviathan of a band on a grand scale, and we are rising once again. While the serpent represents evil to some, for us it symbolizes something else: renewal, growth, knowledge, and liberation. Shedding our skin, so to speak. And let’s not forget that February 2026 marks the end of the Year of the Snake, roughly the same moment this album was completed.”
Grand Serpent Rising was recorded in Gothenburg with acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström, whose legacy with the band includes landmark releases Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon. The collaboration once again captures the band at their most expansive and ferocious, blending orchestral grandeur with unrelenting black metal intensity.
The album comes in the following formats:
CD Jewelcase
2LP + 1CD, 24-Page Mediabook, Transparent Green with Black + White Marble Vinyl
2LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
2LP Gatefold Dark Green Vinyl
2LP Gatefold Gold Vinyl (Norway Exclusive)
2LP Gatefold Crystal Clear Vinyl (Sweden Rock Exclusive)
2LP Gatefold Pearl Flip Waterfall Vinyl
2LP Gatefold Gold with Black Marble Vinyl (Revolver Exclusive)
Los Angeles garage-psych legends The Lords of Altamont are back to remind everyone exactly why they’ve held the crown for nearly thirty years. The band have just teamed up with It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine to drop their latest slice of fuzz-drenched fury, “Rusty Guns”. It’s the first taste of what’s to come from their upcoming … Continue reading The Lords of Altamont get gritty with new track “Rusty Guns”
What Is Dimmu Borgir’s New Album Grand Serpent Rising And Why Does It Matter?
Dimmu Borgir will release Grand Serpent Rising on May 22, marking their first album in eight years—and a calculated return to a dirtier, more old-school sound shaped by classic-era production.
TL;DR
Dimmu Borgir announce Grand Serpent Rising (out May 22 via Nuclear Blast)
First album since 2018’s Eonian
Reunites with producer Fredrik Nordström (classic-era albums)
Lead single “Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel” now available
Intentional shift toward rawer, more “filthy” black metal textures
First album without Galder since 1999
European tour with Behemoth and Dark Funeral confirmed
The First Signal: This Isn’t Just Another Dimmu Album
Eight years between albums is nothing new for Dimmu Borgir. They’ve been operating on that kind of timeline since Abrahadabra and Eonian. But this one feels different immediately.
The moment Silenoz admits he had to intentionally dirty up recordings to make them sound grim enough, you know exactly where this is headed.
That’s not refinement. That’s a course correction.
A Deliberate Shift Back To Dirt And Atmosphere
The biggest takeaway isn’t just that Grand Serpent Rising exists—it’s how it was made.
Silenoz describes a writing process that leaned into instinct over perfection. Riffs captured quickly, sometimes casually, then intentionally degraded to fit the tone.
That’s the opposite of modern metal production.
Instead of chasing clarity, they chased character.
And that matters right now. Black metal fans have been pushing back against overproduced, sterile releases for years. This sounds like Dimmu actually listened.
Fredrik Nordström’s Return Isn’t Nostalgia—It’s Strategy
Bringing back Fredrik Nordström isn’t just a reunion—it’s a signal.
This is the same producer behind:
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
Death Cult Armageddon (2003)
In Sorte Diaboli (2007)
Those albums didn’t just define Dimmu Borgir—they defined an era.
Reuniting with him now suggests this album isn’t trying to evolve past their identity. It’s trying to reclaim it.
No Galder, No Problem—Or A True Return To Form?
This is the first Dimmu Borgir album without Galder since Spiritual Black Dimensions in 1999.
That alone shifts the dynamic.
Instead of a layered, expanded writing team, the process reportedly went back to basics:
Silenoz
Shagrath
That stripped-down approach is exactly how early Dimmu material was built.
And whether intentional or not, that lineup change may be the biggest reason this album leans heavier into their roots than anything they’ve done in years.
Silenoz says the album “covers most of our catalogue,” which is a loaded statement.
That means:
Symphonic scale is still there
Modern elements haven’t disappeared
But raw, riff-driven black metal is back in the mix
That balance is difficult to pull off. Most bands either go fully modern or fully retro.
Dimmu are trying to do both.
If it lands, this could be their most complete album since the early 2000s.
European Tour Locked In With Behemoth And Dark Funeral
To support the release, Dimmu Borgir will hit the road with:
Behemoth (co-headliner)
Dark Funeral (support)
That lineup alone tells you the positioning: this isn’t a nostalgia run—it’s a statement tour.
Fans planning to attend can find tickets through official listingshere.
Dimmu Borgir 2026 European Tour Dates
Oct 09 – Zurich, Switzerland
Oct 10 – Zwickau, Germany
Oct 11 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Oct 13 – Milan, Italy
Oct 14 – Munich, Germany
Oct 16 – Paris, France
Oct 18 – Den Bosch, Netherlands
Oct 20 – Cologne, Germany
Oct 22 – Hamburg, Germany
Oct 23 – Berlin, Germany
Oct 24 – Brno, Czech Republic
Oct 27 – Helsinki, Finland
Oct 29 – Stockholm, Sweden
Oct 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark
The Real Question: Is This The Album Fans Have Been Waiting For?
Here’s the tension:
Dimmu Borgir built their legacy on evolution, but their fanbase often leans toward their earlier, darker material.
This album is clearly trying to bridge that gap.
The production choices, the lineup shift, the producer—all of it points to one thing:
They know exactly what fans have been missing.
The only question now is whether this lands as a true return to form… or just another hybrid experiment.
Where do you land—should Dimmu Borgir lean fully into their old-school sound, or keep pushing forward?
FAQ
When Does Grand Serpent Rising Release?
May 22 via Nuclear Blast.
What Is The First Single From The Album?
“Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel.”
Who Produced The Album?
Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Is This The First Album Without Galder?
Yes, it’s their first without him since 1999.
Who Is Touring With Dimmu Borgir?
Behemoth (co-headliner) and Dark Funeral (support).
Dimmu Borgir Bio
Dimmu Borgir are a Norwegian symphonic black metal band formed in 1993, known for blending orchestral arrangements with extreme metal. Key releases like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, and Death Cult Armageddon helped push black metal into a global spotlight while expanding its sonic boundaries.
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