By Jónas Sen.

The heavy metal band DIMMA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the band performed a concert at Eldborg Hall in Harpa, accompanied by the Philharmonic Choir and SinfoniaNord, on Friday night. This event followed a similar performance at Hof in Akureyri earlier this summer.

DIMMA’s lead singer, Stefán Jakobsson, delivered an outstanding performance. His voice was powerful and resonant, surprisingly lyrical for music often associated with the darker realms of rock. The guest vocalists, Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir and Hjalti Ómar Ágústsson, who joined for a few songs, also shone with precision and confidence.

Sigvaldi Kaldalóns in Leather Pants

Describing the vocals as lyrical might seem unexpected, but it’s fitting. DIMMA’s songs are built around melodic and accessible lines, so much so that one could easily imagine them arranged in the style of Sigvaldi Kaldalóns, fitting snugly into the category of sentimental Icelandic ballads. However, the relentless pounding of drums and the repetitive guitar and bass riffs came across as superficial. Over time, this approach grew monotonous, adding nothing new to the music. By the end, it felt as though the same song had been played repeatedly.

That said, the concert itself was meticulously executed. DIMMA played with tight precision, demonstrating strength and confidence in every piece. The four band members had undeniable stage charisma, creating a palpable connection with the enthusiastic audience.

A Missed Opportunity for Depth

Despite these strengths, the performance fell short in some areas. The inclusion of a symphony orchestra, conducted professionally by Þórður Magnússon, could have elevated the music significantly. Yet, for most of the concert, the orchestra seemed to blend into the background, only coming into its own near the end. The orchestral arrangements were largely one-dimensional, and it wasn’t until the final songs that the orchestra created a dynamic counterpoint to the heavy metal sound, resulting in an exhilarating and colorful mix.

The Choir Left Underutilized

The same can be said for the Philharmonic Choir. It was showcased briefly at the beginning of the concert with O Fortuna from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. While iconic, this choice felt somewhat gratuitous—why do rock musicians so often reference classical music in such a token manner? I recall seeing Marilyn Manson in Belgium, starting his concert with the slow movement of Schubert’s E-flat major Piano Trio, and John Grant using Rachmaninoff’s C-sharp minor Prelude in his performances. In this case, the Carmina Burana excerpt felt heavy-handed and failed to make a strong impression.

Throughout the program, the choir had little presence, only truly shining towards the end with some lively and engaging arrangements. Ultimately, the final 20 minutes of the concert were the most captivating.

Conclusion

The overall performance was solid—vocally superb, in particular—but it wasn’t enough to carry the night. The arrangements could have been more inventive, and the compositions themselves more varied and original. A broader palette would have made the program far more engaging.

Final Verdict: Impressive execution, but a highly repetitive program.

DIMMA’s Anniversary Concert at Eldborg Hall, Harpa, Friday, October 11th.