Spiritual Black Dimension [Import]

Dimmu Borgir | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Marquee Inc. Japan
• ASIN: B00004T8H6
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,068 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Reptile

2. Behind The Curtains Of Night-Phantasmagoria

3. Dreamside Dominions

4. United In Unhalloed Grace

5. The Promides Future Aeons

6. The Blazing Monolights Of Defiance

7. The Insight And The Catharsis

8. Grotesquery Conceiled(Within Measureless Magic)

9. Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria

10. Masses For The New Messiah

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best, almost perfect..., June 7, 2001

By 

"king_niall" (my castle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Black Dimension (Audio CD)

First I must start with a disclaimer: I consider Dimmu Borgir to be the best Symphonic Black Metal band ever. No one, not even the mighty Emperor and Arcturus come close.

It is, then, ironic, that the dark champion of melodic extreme metal hasn't yet released a perfect record, something that Emperor has done twice, and other bands -like Arcturus, Cradle Of Filth and Nokturnal Mortum- have done once. All Dimmu Borgir records are sublime voyages into landscapes of power, fury and majesty, with complex and perfect drumming, the best vocals and guitars in the genre and the most creative and rich keyboard melodies and effects. Yet every one of those records has one or two flaws that, while not hurting the albums in a serious way, somehow manage to make them avoid perfection.

With DB's 1999 release, the irony continues: "Spiritual Black Dimensions" is the best Dimmu Borgir album in terms of songwriting and execution, but has the worse sound mix. Every song in "SBD" is a highlight. It has no filler material. Every song flows into the next, and there's never a moment where you feel that something could be left out. Astennu and Silenoz play very heavy riffs that sound like the monstrous roar of a huge beast, in a true death metal fashion. And this head-banging power is enhanced by a darkly sweet piano and a haunting chorus background. You have, at the same time, the powerful emotions that the best metal invigorates on the listener, and majestic symphonies that evoke mystic realms beyond human experience. The result is an overwhelming feeling of melancholy and joy, exultation and transcendence. Shagrath's guttural screaming, Nagash's bass and Tjodalv's tight and fast drumming add to that effect an urgency, a frenzy that completes the majestic music known as Symphonic Black Metal. On strategic spots, to increase the mood of certain parts, Simen Hestnaes (of Borknagar) sings beautifully, like a longing medieval bard.

There are particular moments here that are so crushingly beautiful, so stimulating, that, after having owned this record for almost two years, still can give me goosebumps and tears and the feel that I can bring down walls with my fists: "Reptile", with his sung verse -"He who speaks of nightly treasures..."-(I have some friends, men and women, who don't like Metal at all, but enjoy that chorus as a catchy sing-along, something I suppose Black Metal fundamentalists would find repugnant, but that I find amusing and a testimony of quality music); the second minute of "United In Unhallowed Grace", probably one of the most powerful riffs and synth tunes ever recorded on Metal; the long guitar solo of Astennu during "Grotesquery Conceiled"; the intros of "Arcane Force Mysteria" and "Promised Future Aeons"; the entirety of "Dreamside Dominions"; the final, Egyptian-like, three minutes of "The Insight and the Catarsis", with Simen singing his soul out.

Well, if "SBD" is such an auditory orgasm, how come it's not perfect? The answer is that the mix sound, as stated above, is flawed. The drums are buried in the mix, the double-bass drum and a lot of Tjodalv's work is virtually inaudible. The two guitars tend to become one indistinct buzz, and in certain parts they become plain noise. And Dimmu Borgir, as devastatingly heavy as it is, is not about noise, but about power and music. The whole record has this blurry atmosphere, with lots of treble and echoes, like it was recorded in a huge cave. It needs a very high quality stereo-equipment to be understood in its full potential. Play it in a regular stereo, and it loses its sharpness and becomes white-noise with some piano in the background.

I suppose it's strange to argue about sound quality in a Black Metal album, given that most of the recordings in the genre, even the best ones, have the same problem -in fact, primitive and raw sound is regarded as an important aesthetic value among Black Metal fundamentalists, because of its rebelliousness, or something. But the brilliance of this band deserves a lot better. Dimmu Borgir deserves state-of-the-art recording technology for its music. Let's hope that in fifteen years, when this album becomes acknowledged as the classic it is, there will be a "Dimmu Borgir Remasters" collection where "Spiritual Black Dimensions" fulfills the promise of its title in a more grand and crystalline way.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!, October 16, 2002

By 

Metal Maiden (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Black Dimension (Audio CD)

I don't care what anyone says, this album is perfect! Not only is the production great, the music is too. Some people say that they over do the synth in this one. I can tell you now that they really don't. In fact, I think it goes well with the album considering I usually don't like synth in metal. Believe me, I've listened to many different metal albums, and I know when one is truly good. I even think the vocals in this album are very good, unlike those who try too much. The only complaint I have about this album is the way the band looks. But, you have to be really closed minded and foolish to take points off for that! I'll admit, I don't think these guys really have many other good albums, but that should not stop anyone from wanting to get this one. Take my word on this one, if black metal is what you like, than get this album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure evil, August 30, 2002

By 

Dion F. (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Black Dimension (Audio CD)

Now i am fan of dimmu borgir and i must say i love puritanical and enthrone darkness triumphant but i heard a couple of songs from this and then decided to get the album, and my my was i impressed. It's the perfect black metal album, unlike other black metal. Great guitaring, haunting atmosphere and not too mention shargath's evil voice. All of it sends you into a trance when you listen
Trully beautiful, check it out if you like symphonic black metal or dimmu borgir.