Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

Dimmu Borgir | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B00005A0XA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,119 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Norway
  • #87 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Hard Rock & Metal

Track Listings

1. Fear And Wonder

2. Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny

3. Kings Of The Carnival Creation

4. Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy

5. Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature

6. Puritana

7. Indoctrination

8. The Maelstrom Mephisto

9. Absolute Sole Right

10. Sympozium

11. Perfection Or Vanity

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Dimmu Borgir aren't fooling anyone who knows Emperor and Enslaved as to the true origins of its basic musical plan. Judging by the group's popularity, legitimacy doesn't really matter. In a field overrun by erratic innovators, Dimmu Borgir are a friendly face to fans who stumbled into the catacombs of black metal by way of Cradle of Filth's comical casino. So, as this gigantic gaggle of evil keyboard-wielding Yanni spawn increasingly represents the marketable side of Norwegian black metal, the more enormous and slick grows their sound. With significant melodic classical influence and lots of five-dollar words, the digital jesters construct huge plastic cathedral-sized heavy metal dance halls for the purpose of desecrating virtual-reality saints. Goons gurgle, hounds howl, fret boards flutter furiously, choirs complain to the heavens, and tiny gateways to Hades blink open and shut. It's all devilishly dirty, and in the end nobody gets hurt. --Ian Christe

Product Description

Full title 'Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'. Limited edition of the Norwegian black metal act's 2001 album, packagedin a CD size box with a double sided poster, logo patch andexclusive artwork. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A word to all the naysayers AND the believers..., January 2, 2004

By 

emperorcaligula (Glen Burnie, MD.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Audio CD)

You know, I've always believed in the simple philosophy of thinking for oneself, but I have to admit to letting the narrowmindedness of others occasionally blind my path. Take for example the music of Dimmu Borgir. I've been plunging pretty deeply into the bleak nihilistic darkness of Norway's most evil black metal maestros for the last several years now, and up until recently, I had honestly not heard ONE SINGLE NOTE of these guys' music. Why? Because if you listen to the average rantings of the supposed "true" black metal consumer, Dimmu Borgir are the post-'91 Metallica of the scene. "They're overproduced", "they went Cradle of Filth", "they sold out", "they're too keyboard-driven", yada yada yada... And guess what? I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.

Well, about two months ago, I was looking for something new and FINALLY decided to risk the cost of a CD on 'Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia'. Today, as I write this with "Blessings Upon the Throne of Tyranny" blasting away in the background, I'm eating crow with a huge evil grin on my face and washing it down with 24 year old Scotch. This is far and away one of the best metal albums I've heard in YEARS. How anyone could listen to this and NOT love it has me utterly bewildered.

Okay, so maybe they don't fit into the way-too-conservative category of "true" Norwegian black metal. Indeed, it IS a bit difficult to categorize them at all. You've got the melodic keyboards of Emperor, the theatrics of CoF (see the band members' photos in the enclosed booklet, the one of Galder being particularly amusing...heh heh), the mid-paced overdrive of In Flames and early Entombed, and the classic punch of old school metal with more than a few blastbeats thrown in to keep things lively. But if I had to compare them to any one band - and this is REALLY gonna floor you - it would have to be QUEEN. The way Dimmu Borgir craft each and every song into a dramatic little opera that completely defies any kind of confined category (and I should add that I STILL consider it to be "black metal") makes me think of the magic that once poured from the minds of the late Freddie Mercury and Brian May...they realized that nothing instrumentally or stylistically should be barred from their imagination, and this comparison is probably the highest possible compliment I can give them.

And then there's the production. While there are certainly times when an overly clean production is not the best approach to take (see my review of Emperor's 'Prometheus'), I for one appreciate it when a band goes to the time and trouble (not to mention the expense) of presenting their material in a way that I can clearly hear EVERY instrument without losing one iota of the music's overall feel and heaviness. Folks, if you've spent mega-bucks on a true audiophile system, be prepared to have it tested. And you know how clean vocals most often come off sounding laughable when a black metal singer who normally troll-screeches tries to do them? Well, even Shagrath knows his limitations, and so bassist Vortex does them. And exceedingly well, I should add...he actually reminds me of the singer from Yes, if you can believe that..?!

I'm not going to waste any more space going into the individual songs here, as other longtime fans have done so already, other than to say that every song on here is simply amazing, with my particular favorites being "Kings of the Carnival Creation", "The Maelstrom Mephisto" and the aforementioned "Blessings...", ESPECIALLY coming on the heels of the beautiful and haunting opening instrumental, "Fear and Wonder"...aww, man...

After buying this CD, I've since picked up 'Death Cult Armageddon', 'Enthrone Darkness Triumphant', and the awesome 'World Misanthropy' DVD, and I won't be stopping there. To all the believers, congratulations on teaching an old dog some new tricks. And to all the "truist" naysayers, may I simply suggest that you GROW UP.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Symphonic Black Metal at it's hardest!!, December 4, 2005

By 

Switchblade Metalman (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Audio CD)

Dimmu Borgir is:

Vocals - Shagrath
Guitar - Galder
Guitar - Silenoz
Keyboard - Mustis
Bass - Vortex
Drums - Nicholas Barker


Dimmu Borgir is Norway,s premier black metal band at its best!! This album is great, not containing a sore song anywhere. The musicianship is extraordinary and the production is much better than that of your typical black metal band. The music on this cd is more brutal than "Death Cult Armeggedon," the band's newest album, but this album contains more musical shifts and more complex art within each individual song. The addition of an orchestra fills in those eerie evil moments. Although it is not a full blown orchestra, such as the one from Prague that they used for "Death Cult Armaggedon", it still adds to its complex musical structure.

Of, course, there is one downfall of their lyrical structure: It reveals they are blatantly satanic. The lyrics are well thought out and VERY complex, but once you realize what its trying to say it goes downhill from there..... But through most of the cd it wouldn't really matter because you can't really interpret what Shagrath is saying. One thing I do appreciate about Shagrath's singing is that he doesn't have violent screams for singing. Instead he sings in a deep thrash voice, which allows the listener to listen without having to clench his face every time he hears Shagrath singing. When Vortex comes along though, you can really sense the world getting darker around you. His voice is hauntingly awesome and it adds to the demonic aspect of the music.

1. Fear and Wonder - 5/5 - Excellent peice performed by Dimmu's guest orchestra. The violins and cellos prepares you with a dark feel of the music so you'll be prepared for the rest of the cd.

2. Blessing's Upon the Throne of Tyranny - 5/5 - Awesome title, even better music. There are many riff switches in this song, keeping you headbanging nonstop. A couple mini breakdowns too, which are always nice additions.

3. King's of the Carnival Creation - 5/5 - Great song, diverse from any other black metal song I have heard. The verse contains lighting fast heretas (drum term) performed by Nick on the double bass. This is first song on cd that introduces Vortex's clean haunting voice.

4. Hybrid Stygmata: The Apostacy - 5/5 - A beast of a song, begin with an orchestra, and Shagrath screams out of nowhere, thus beginning the headbanging. Catchy guitar riffs backed up by the orchestra. The song starts to go peaceful when Vortex starts to sing. 4 or 5 tempo changes within the song also.

5. Architecture of a Genocidal Nature - 4/5 - One of those songs where you don't know what's gonna happen next. First 100 mph music, then it goes to soft style, and back to the 100 mph music.

6. Puritania - 6/5 - This song blew me away. "We do away with your kind" and then came the countdown and out popped the guitar. Best song on the cd, but unfortunately, the shortest. This song is the easiest to understand lyrically. It's basically about cleansing the world of the human race.

7. IndoctriNation - 5/5 - Fastest song on the cd besides "Maelstrom Mephisto". Very melodic sections between the verses. Then out of nowhere comes an orchestral solo with a voice speaking in the background. Intensely evil.

8. The Maelstrom Mephisto - 5/5 - Another great song. THE fastest song on the cd. I'm surprised Nick didn't pass out while recording this because he is amazingly fast. My favorite appearance of Vortex is on this song, his voice is so hauntingly beautiful. Especially when backed up by orchestral and drum movements.

9. Absolute Sole Right - 4/5 - Not the best song on the album in my opinion, but still excellent if comparing to other band's music. Another speed it up song like "The Maelstrom Mephisto" and "IndoctriNation."

10. Sympozium - 5/5 - Best orchestral tune I think. If you take out the drums, it sounds like the intro to a horror movie. Completely haunting, and the guitar parts in this song reminds me of Children of Bodom's style. Shagrath's voice adds to the haunting aspects of the song.

11. Perfection or Vanity - 5/5 - It would have been a 6, but it was too short and repetive. AWESOME melody though. A kind of haunting song but also kind of gives you a sense of hope and awakening. You could almost, ALMOST classify it as a concept album if you look at it theme and morale wise.

This was great Dimmu Borgir album and I HIGHLY recommend any metal listener to check it out.........IMMEDIATELY!!!!

John

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for puritans ... or purists!, December 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Audio CD)

For some, this is true black metal. For others, not. That seems to be the most important question in many reviewers' mind. And they seem to be missing the point. This album is not 100% Black Metal. So what?. It's a killer, and that's what really matters. On "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia", you can still find many of the elements that made "Spiritual Black Dimensions" so compelling: Mustis' weird, creepy keyboard playing, the fantastic vocal interplay between Shagrath's rasp and Vortex's "clean" operatic wail, and the scorching guitar riffs of Silenoz. On this album, the guys in Dimmu Borgir still remain true to their Black Metal roots, but this time around, they enhanced their formula by throwing in Swedish Death and Doom metal for good measure. And on "Puritania", they even experiment with industrial metal (or "cyborgmetal" a la "Fear Factory", whatever you like to call it). Is all this a bad thing?. I don't think so. As long as they manage to keep their sound fresh ... and they did it with this album!. The songs on this record are first rate, but "Blessings Upon The Throne of Tyranny" is probably the tightest number this band has pulled out yet. And the album's epic, "Sympozium", is the kind of pure death metal melody that would make In Flames proud. Just check out the vocals by Vortex on that number. The all-star line-up is completed by Old Man's Child axe Galder, and ex-Cradle of Filth Nick Barker, who letarally beats the hell out of his drumkit. Producer Frederik Nordstrom (In Flames) wisely avoided the common "Black Metal" mistake of drowning all the crunch in layers upon layers of echo. And there's even a whole string section to beef up the sound. The lyrics on PEM are more articulate than usual, and aren't the classical, trite satanic garbage you would expect to hear from Black Metal acts ... Still, they are predictably anti-catholic. But this is only a minor fault in this fantastic LP.