Sven “Silenoz” Kopperud argues that metal’s power comes from its resistance to mainstream acceptance. He shared his thoughts on Radio Rock.
The Dimmu Borgir bassist was asked whether the band ever considered compromising their sound during the years it took them to reach bigger stages. The question also referenced how long Behemoth spent in a similar position before achieving larger audience reach.
Question: “It took quite a lot of time for Behemoth and also for you guys to get to the bigger stages. Has there ever been a moment where you thought ‘Maybe we should compromise a little bit?'”
“Never,” Silenoz said. “This music is not meant to be for the masses anyway. Metal in general is not. You look at Iron Maiden and Judas Priest and all the big ones, still they’re not played on mainstream radio. So I think it’s good that it is the way it is, with our kind of music and metal in general.”
He then explained his view on what the genre’s niche status actually means. “Indifference. What’s the fun about that?” he continued. “You want people either loving you or hating you. That’s how you know that you’re doing something right. And we are here; they’re not. So, that speaks for itself.”
Kopperud’s comments reflect his perspective on metal’s place outside mainstream radio and commercial acceptance. His remarks highlight how established metal bands maintain their cultural power without mainstream support.
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian symphonic black metal band that formed in 1993. The band’s breakthrough came with the 2003 album “Death Cult Armageddon”, which became their first album to chart in the U.S. In 2012, the band performed at Wacken Open Air with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in front of 75,000 people. Their music videos received heavy rotation on MTV2, and they placed four consecutive albums on the Billboard 200.
Kopperud is one of only two remaining original members of the band, alongside vocalist Shagrath. Dimmu Borgir has built a loyal following over decades without relying on mainstream radio play or commercial acceptance. The band’s ability to maintain cultural impact through their devoted fanbase supports his argument about metal’s power in remaining outside the mainstream.
Dimmu Borgir released its album “Grand Serpent Rising” in May 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. In October 2026, the band embarked on the “In League With Satan” co-headline tour with Behemoth across Europe, with Swedish black metal icons Dark Funeral as special guests. This tour marked their return to headlining North American shows for the first time since 2018.
