Dimmu Borgir has officially welcomed Kjell Åge “Damage” Karlsen as their new guitarist. Karlsen, who previously worked alongside frontman Shagrath (Stian Tomt Thoresen) in the long-running Norwegian rock group Chrome Division, joined the band onstage for the first time Friday night (June 27) during their performance at the Tons Of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway. Fan-shot footage of the show has already begun circulating online.
The band confirmed the addition on social media earlier today, posting a photo of Karlsen along with the following statement: “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. It’s already been a pleasure working and rehearsing with Damage over the last couple of months and we hope that you, the fans, will join us in welcoming him to the line up!”
Karlsen’s arrival follows the departure of longtime guitarist Galder (Thomas Rune Andersen), who left Dimmu Borgir last summer to revive his other project, Old Man’s Child. Galder, now 48, played his final concert with the band on August 17, 2024, headlining the main stage at Dynamo Metal Fest in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
As a founding member of Old Man’s Child, Galder released one EP and seven studio albums between 1994 and 2009. His decision to focus again on that project ends more than two decades with Dimmu Borgir.
The current official lineup of Dimmu Borgir remains a core duo: Shagrath on lead vocals and Silenoz (Sven Atle Kopperud) on rhythm guitar. They are joined by session musicians: Karlsen on guitar, Dariusz “Daray” Brzozowski on drums (since 2008), Geir “Gerlioz” Bratland on keyboards (since 2010), and Victor Brandt on bass (since 2018).
