Dimmu Borgir frontman Shagrath remembers queuing up at an ATM in central Oslo when he was recognised by a group of local metalheads. Shagrath previously led his own teenage black metal band, Fimbulwinter, while his new bandmates had played in short-lived death metal groups before seeing the dark and switching musical allegiance. Where they went next not only dramatically altered the fortunes of Dimmu Borgir, it changed the landscape of black metal itself. The owner of increasingly influential German label Nuclear Blast, he’d been following their progress and was looking to sign black metal bands to the label’s roster. Enthrone Darkness Triumphant arrived at a time when the black metal scene was in the throes of evolution.