When we first heard that Dimmu Borgir vocalist Shagrath was engaged to Nicholas Cage's ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton, we were sort of disgusted. It seemed hypocritical that the frontman for a Satanic black metal band was rubbing elbows (and genitalia) with a mainstream celebrity. To be honest, we were almost ready to write Dimmu Borgir off.

Then we popped the first disc of the band's double DVD, "The Invaluable Darkness," into our player, and within moments our faith was restored. Basically, we forgot our bias and recognized talent and presentation for what it was. Also, we applied the same criteria to Shagrath's personal life that we did to the band's spirituality. We're not Satanists or Pagans (We're not even Norwegian), but we can accept that a musician's beliefs are his own business. Ditto for Shagrath's private life.

The fact remains that Dimmu Borgir create dramatic music rife with aggression and dynamics. Theirs is the stuff of compelling. The music is filled with symphonic swells comparable to classical music, histrionic bursts tantamount to opera and the warlike stage countenance of Greek stage drama. And let's face it, all those spikes and sneers are pretty damn cool.

After some of the wussy, whiny roles Cage has played, no wonder Fulton is digging Shagrath's Nordic splendor. Humor aside, Dimmu Borgir are the seductive sound of infectious power. Their effusive melodies are inviting for anyone brave enough to overlook their ferocity and the more the bystander dabbles in their songcraft, the deeper entrenched he becomes. Let's see Gorgoroth pull that off.

When Dimmu Borgir were in Los Angeles for a screening of their DVD, we hooked up with guitarist Silenoz (Shagrath isn't talking to the press at the moment because he's too busy banging Fulton), and talked about the encapsulating might of the new DVDs, the value of darkness, the band's recent lineup changes (drummer Hellhammer is on hiatus and guitarist Galder recently had a kid and is staying at home for the time being), the Blackest of the Black tour and the work Dimmu Borgir has already done for the follow up to their 2007 album In Sorte Diaboli. Click "more" to stream or download the podcast. Read more...

Nicholas Cage's ex with future husband, Dimmu Borgir frontman Shagrath. photo by Kristian Helgesen, courtesy of VG.no.

The Norwegian black metal community may be more mainstream than you think. Over the past week, a couple of announcements have been made concerning major players in the genre that seriously shake out faith in the ultimate power of the black.

First, word gets out that Dimmu Borgir frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Tomt Thoresen) is going to marry Nicholas Cage's 41-year-old ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton in September, according to Norwegian newspaper VG. Shagrath met Fulton on June 6, 2006 at a Pagan bloodletting ritual... just kidding. The couple actually met four months ago through one of the singer's "associates," and were reportedly hooked from the start. Will the wedding will be held in a damp cave in Bergen? Nope. The happy couple will marry in Prekestolen, a site popular amongst tourists because of its sweeping panoramic views.

So, what does Fulton and Cage's 17-year-old son Weston Coppola-Cage think of all this? Well, since he has his own black metal band, Eyes of Noctum, in LA, he's probably giving thanks and praises to Beelzebub on a daily basis. Thanks to his stepdad to be, his band is currently recording is debut album with producer Fredrik Nordström (Dimmu Borgir, In Flames) at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album will feature an appearance by Mayhem drummer Hellhammer (who has also played with Dimmu).

Equally, if not more appalling, Gorgoroth singer Gaahl (a.k.a. Kristian Espedal) is apparently launching a women's clothing line with modeling agent Dan DeVero, who says the two developed "a close relationship" after they met 18 months ago. "He often told me he had strong feelings for me," DeVero allegedly told iBergen.no.

The pair's company will be called Wynjo, which is an ancient Norse word for -- not Valhalla, not Almighty Satan -- but "the search for happiness." The outfits will be designed by Sonja Wu and will be presented at a preview in Bergen in September. Maybe Shagrath's babe, Fulton, should get Gaahl's peeps to design her a blood-spattered wedding outfit.

So, what does Shaggy's coven think of his dalliances in ladies clothing? "Those who know me in private didn't think it was particularly strange," he told iBergen.No. "I do not care about what people in general think. It's not as if I'm going to change as a person just because suddenly there are some dresses out in the world. Besides, I like confusing people."

Consider us confused... and nauseated.