DIMMU BORGIR — Spiritual Black Dimensions (review)

DIMMU BORGIR — Spiritual Black Dimensions album cover Album · 1999 · Symphonic Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
Spiritual Black Dimensions is the 4th full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act Dimmu Borgir. The album was my introduction to the band and I actually saw them on the tour supporting Spiritual Black Dimensions. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in March 1999.

The music on Spiritual Black Dimensions is symphonic black metal with loads of keyboards/ synths. Shagrath performs his usual raspy vocals but also some more deep vocals that are closer to growls. The addition of ICS Vortex to the lineup ensures some high quality clean vocals. The music is generally very melodic but the wall of sound sometimes gives the songs a chaotic element. The album is very well produced by Peter Tägtgren though, so all instruments and vocals are clearly audible in the mix. All songs are very well composed and the musicianship on this album is high class.

While all of the above sounds like I have no complaints, that certainly would be far from the truth. There´s no denying that Spiritual Black Dimensions is a high quality black metal release. Wether or not you´ll enjoy the polished production and general lack of old school black metal attitude is a different matter though. I´m a bit biased if I have to be honest, but mostly I miss a more raw attitude and at the fear of being flamed by Dimmu Borgir´s fans I´ll risk my neck here and call this album "vanilla" black metal. While I don´t enjoy this album much myself, a 3.5 star rating is still well deserved.
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