Customer Reviews

Spiritual Black Dimension

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The dreadfull loss of their keyboard player Stian Aarstad did not effect this recording as i feared. The joining of a great new member Mustis realy turned the heat up in the keyboard part. New realy wonderful backig vocals by Simen Hestnęs wich gives us his wonderful operic singing in some parts and it realy fits in. Shagrath keeps up the good work with more deamonic screams and Astennu cant fail on those hard guitar riffs. A great new dimension for Dimmu Borgir and to name a few great tracks "The Insight And The Catharsis", "Dreamside Dominions" and "United In Unhallowed Grace" although all the tracks realy ROKK. This Cd is A must have for any BlackMetal fan.

What first struck me about this album was the production. Unlike most other black metal bands (even earlier Cradle Of Filth by comparison - if they count) Dimmu Borgir have complete over-production. Now I'm not one of these people who think good production is bad in metal (on the contrary) but I don't think this is actually that well produced. Sure, the guitars are thick, the vocals are layered and mixed and everything that is evident of a HIGH budget, but what I'm getting at is that everything blares out so much that it all melds together and I find it hard to appreciate it as a whole because of this.

Generally this isn't a bad album, but the only song I thought was really much good was "Behind The Curtains Of Night-Time Phantasmogoria". There are other cool songs like "Reptile" and "Grotesquely Concieled" but my problem with Dimmu Borgir is that they slow down too much. Emperor, Satyricon, Dissection and Cradle Of Filth all pump up the speed but have slow parts as well. Dimmu Borgir are mostly slow, only ocassionally picking up speed. Now, I wouldn't have a problem if the atmosphere was different. Burzum's Det Som Engang Var was mostly slow. But that album had the typical, poorly produced sound that brought out the slow doomy nature of the music. This is much more orchestrated with nowhere near the same level of emotion, so its more of a hectic orchestrated atmosphere. Which is a bit of a problem if the music isn't fast and hectic (for the most part). Its not that the production is really bad (though I have gripes with it), but it is a little mismatched to the music.

I bought this album quite some time ago (we're talking years) and it has taken me until recently to come to a conclusion on what I think of it. It is a good album in its own way but I find it too over-produced. I love the chaotic feeling at the end of some songs when they reach their climax and basement production would not have brought this out well, but generally there are far too many mediocre-at-best moments sandwiched between the occasional good bits. I'm not an elitist black metal fan (in fact my favourite bands are not extreme metal) but I know what I like, and this is missing that edge that other great bands, be they extreme metal or otherwise, lack. This band have talent, but (on this album at least) their sound seems to me to be far too artificial.

Being a Black Metal fan, I must say that although this album isn't a total waste of time, Dimmu Borgir surely had done better in the past. It's too noisy, in the bad sense, full of synth taking over the music, which makes it sound like disco, and look, I'm NOT with the "True Black Metal" people. Imagine what THEY say about this. Finally, this album is totally immmersed in the poser era of Dimmu Borgir. It doesn't even compare with the older Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, where the music is richer and the use of keyboards hardly takes over.

this album has its moments of supersonic speed (reptile) and superb gothic atmospheres with slower tempos (the insight and the catharsis, arcane lifeforce mysteria) so it's pretty much a varied sound that's contained in this 49 minutes long LP. i dont see how according to some reviewers, DB have 'slowed down'. i mean does it have to sound like a darkthrone album in order to be proudly counted as black metal? my favorite black metal bands are more on the Mayhem side of black metal but i'm judging this album for being what it is, instead of questioning the good production (which seems to be a sacrilege in the black metal realm) or the use of synths, etc. this is superbly arranged music and i think the clear voices provided by bass player Simen ar a particularly nice touch, especially on track 7. black metal excellence dudes!

this album is the next best to puritanical. i know i said enthrone was the second best, but what was i thinking! this album is just awesome! definitly the albums with mustis are the best dimmu albums. this one is just amazing!

I have been a fan of black metal and have followed Dimmu for years, yet this is truly one of their greatest works, in my opinion. I am torn on that as I am one of the few people who found Enthrone to be a fantastic album...most Dimmu fans prefer Spiritual, yet when I heard Mourning Palace on Enthrone it surely struck a chord with me. With their newest release Puritanical I feel the band has morphed in a positive direction as opposed to other metal bands whose music tends to mellow out over time; however, as one of their earlier works, Spiritual remains a fantastic album...my favorite track is The Insight and Catharsis, the guest vocals are phenomenal. I highly reccomend Spritual if you are just getting into Dimmu, it is some fantastic Swedish metal. Shagrath's vocals, unlike many metal bands, are pure and unsynthesized, yet they have a distorted quality and a range that makes you think they have been dynthesized, however, it's just his pure talent! Dimmu Rules!!! >:P

This gets 5 stars not because it is a great album, which it is not even close. Hell, I would not even consider this black metal, but the bonus song is completely amazing.