History & Biography Chrome Division was an idea first hatched in 1999 by Shagrath and Nagash of Dimmu Borgir. The jam session lead to little due to the members’ busy schedule, but it was only in 2004 the musicians got together again and begun recruiting actual members for a line-up. Tony White would soon take over the drums from Nagash. Björn Bergersen produced the band’s debut. The song Serial Killer was also issued as a single. The album would enter the Norwegian charts. A second album Booze, Broads And Beelzebub was out in July 2008. Eddie Guz was asked to leave the band in August of 2009. “He’s out, due to lack of dedication and commitment to the band. In February, Shady Blue (Athera of Susperia) stepped in for Eddie on a gig in Germany, and the result was very pleasing for both the band and the fans. So we are happy to announce that Shady Blue has now become a full worthy permanent singer in Chrome Division.” Athera, a.k.a. Pal Mathieson, had undergone heart surgery earlier that year and himself was replaced by a substitute within Susperia. Chrome Division’s third album Round Knockout was out in May of 2011 through Nuclear Blast Records. In the spring of 2012, Chrome Division asked bassist Björn "Burn" Luna and guitarist Ricky Black to leave. The band’s new guitarist was Damage Karlsen of Breed fame.
Borknagar singer Andreas "Vintersorg" Hedlund would be replaced by Pål Mathiesen (a.k.a. Athera) of Susperia and Chrome Division at the Brutal Assault festival in 2013 due to the former man’s work obligations. Chrome Division would release its fourth album, Infernal Rock Eternal, on January 17th, 2014 through Nuclear Blast. Eddie Guz returned for the 2018 album. Ogee had left in 2017. Shagrath played bass here.
Reviews CHROME DIVISION - DOOMSDAY ROCK ’N ROLL - NUCLEAR BLAST Yet another side-project for yet another Scandinavian band. What is it with these wife-swappers? Does dedication even have a Norwoswedish equivalent? Probably not.
The latest side-project belongs to Dimmu Borgir’s Shagrath, although then-Dimmu Borgir member Nagash was part of the founding line-up. So, why would fans dole out cash for this? It surely will not be because the idea of a side-act is novel or that there is a demand out there for something called death 'n roll (outside minor countries).
Chrome Division clearly attempts to clone Motörhead. Be it the smoky vocals, the punk-cum-rock and metal music or titles like Serial killer, 1st Regiment and The Angel Falls Lemmy and company’s footprints are all over this disc. The album, however, begins with a patented Quiet Riot riff before covering the ”˜head (Breath Easy is an obvious example), Iron Maiden soloing (check out the song Chrome Division) and a sound comparable to Fireball Ministry. The Angel Falls is an infectious song, When The Shit Hits The Fan is pure hardcore, while Trouble With The Law has a commercial tinge ironically.
Chrome Division, while not exactly original or innovative, is nonetheless a fun little release with the affectations necessary for the sub-genre. Fans of Dimmu Borgir might buy out of habit, but by rights it is more mainstream heavy rock fans that would multiply Chrome Division’s sales. - Ali “The Metallian”
CHROME DIVISION - BOOZE, BROADS AND BEELZEBUB - NUCLEAR BLAST
“Rock And Roll Is The Devil’s Music,” according to Chrome Division and they should know being the rocking alter ego of Dimmu Borgir. The band is back with another album that bridges the gap between Motörhead and Mustach, which means lots of attitude, loud riffs and lyrics about cars, chicks and crime. The band shows the requisite attitude, but in reality the boys can get fast and hard bashing through proudly devilish medleys of guitar and thundering drums. The hardcore rage is mixed with melody and even the cool solo or two, although no one is going to call the band modern or contemporary. Hopelessly out of date is a song about a Raven Black Cadillac. Porsche or Audi maybe, but who wants to be seen in a Cadillac except somebody’s grandfather. Hello, dudes! The Devil Walks Proud has Danzig written all over it, but Hate This Town gears up for a pedal to the metal rage.
Of course it is all rabble-rousing fakery, but playing the monster is as metal as the devil’s horns and if one suspends disbelief long enough for a song or two it all starts to make sense. Too bad one cannot say the same thing for the annoying ZZ Top cover version of Sharp Dressed Man. - Anna Tergel
Interviews
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