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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old line-up same result:A superb symphonic Black Metal album, November 8, 2004
Fourth album from Norwegian Black Metal band Dimmu Borgir. This album was released in 1999. From the line-up from Spiritual Black Dimensions only vocalist Shagrath and guitarist Silenoz are in the current line-up. The bass player and second vocalist Vortex was a session musician on Spiritual Black Dimensions He only sang on a few songs on the album. On this album the keyboards are very dominant. Sometimes to dominant, because it is sometimes hard to clearly hear the other instruments. Compared to Enthroned Darkness Triumphant, the keyboard sounds are more diverse. The keyboard sound gives the album an evil orchestral/theatrical atmosphere. The guitar playing is good, but not as good as on Dimmu Borgir's later albums. The guitar playing is simpler. The solos on the other hand are superb. Guitarist Astennu played all the solos. Unfortunately the solos on later albums are not as impressive as on Spiritual Black Dimensions. The drummer Tjodalv has a totally different style and sound than Barker, who played on Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon. Tjodalv is a less technical player, but has a very recognizable drum style. His style fits the music perfectly, I really like his blast beats. Shagrath's vocals has improved compared to Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, they are more diverse. Also session-musician Vortex sings a few high and clean vocal lines. These vocals give the songs an extra element.
The music is rather diverse. Do not expect an album with only blast beats. A song like "The Inside And The Catharsis" is a lengthy complex song, where all elements from the band are combined. There are fast parts, slow parts, brutal guitars, classical keys, Black Metal vocals, and clean vocals. It is a perfect song. On the other hand "Behind The Curtains Of Night Phantasmagoria" is a fast and brutal, but short song. The song "Dreamside Dominions" reminds me of "In Death's Embrace", from Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, because it is also a "catchy" keyboard driven song. "Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria" is a very interesting song. It starts out as an atmospheric song with clean guitars and Gothic sounding keys. The guitarists plays a few doomy guitars, before all hell breaks loose and the bands starts playing at full blast. What a way to built-up a song and end this superb album.
I highly recommend this album to anyone who likes diverse symphonic Black Metal.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, just more keyboards and some clean vocals here and there..., July 15, 2006
This is a very underrated album, coming off their best "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant", this always happens to bands, once they release their best album, the album that follows it usually gets underrated, and overlooked, it happened to Morbid Angel with Domination, it happened to Exodus with Pleasures of the Flesh, and so on, so this is more keyboard driven than ETD was, but it's the same direction, the production is top notch like ETD, so no worries there.
"Reptile" Is an excellent opener, one of the best on the album, this song has alot of keys, and some clean vocal parts, but it all fits in nicely, and is it's nice and heavy also.
"Behind The Curtains of Night - Phantasmagoria" Is just as strong as Reptile, featuring heavy riffs, a nice heavy groove, and the keys are great, and of course Shagraths vocals are killer.
"Dreamside Dominions" This reminds me alot of ETD, it's the most comparable, not much to say about it, just a killer song.
"United in Unhallowed Grace" Is heavy as hell, and nice keys again, very nicely done.
"The Promised Future Aeons" Starts with a symphonic sound, and works it's way into the song, another great song.
"The Blazing Monoliths of Defiance" Starts with heavy riffs, and then the guitars and drums and vocals come in, with the keys, very nicely done also.
"The Insight and the Catharsis" Not much to say, has some nice clean vocal parts as well, and nice keys, not much else to say about it, just another killer song.
The last 2 are killer also, theres just nothing much different about them from the rest of the songs to explain them, this album is very underrated, if you liked ETD, and don't mind a FEW clean vocal parts, and more keyboards, then check this out.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Total Masterpiece... HIGHLY underrated, November 29, 2005
This is Dimmu Borgir's best and most mature album. Every song on this album is utterly fantastic. In fact it contains my top 3 favorite Dimmu Borgir songs (Reptile, the Insight and the Catharsis, Grotesquery Conceiled). Shagrath's vocals sound untterly overwhemlming and Simen's backing vocals add the perfect melodic counterpart to his vocal assault. Astennu's leads sizzle, Mustis's keyboard parts fill the soundscape with dark atmospheres and melodies. The production on this album is incredible... I really do not know how to descirbe it other than being very full and "mystical" sounding. I would say that it is the best sounding metal album I've ever heard. I'm completely flabbergasted as to why this album recieves so little attention from metal fans. It's as if there was a large gap between Enthrone Darkness Triumphant and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. Recommended without hesitation, quite possibly my favorite metal album.
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