Spiritual Black Dimensions - Dimmu Borgir

At the time of release, back in 1999, this was Norwegian symphonic Black Metal band Dimmu Borgir's most intense and aggressive release to date, and very different from the former albums. Some reasons included the introduction of new keyboardist, Mustis, taking over for Stian Aarstad. The keyboards play an enormous part in Dimmu Borgir's sound, and Mustis' style is very different from Stian Aarstad's style. Mustis' style focuses more on dark atmospheres and sinister symphonies. Gone are the up-beat melodies and melancholy instrumentals Stian Aarstad brought to the band. Another inclusion in the band's sound is Simen Hestnæs of Borknagar fame, who not only plays bass but ...  Read the complete review

The beginning of Dimmu Borgir's downfall, 'Spiritual Black Dimensions' is perhaps the weakest album the band has released, even compared to the disappointing later efforts that at least contained easily identifiable songs. Here, the sound all blends together as an unsatisfying hammering of industrial black metal drowned in pointless keyboards from newcomer Mustis, who entirely lacks his predecessor's style and creativity. Rather than nostalgically evoking ancient Scandinavian landscapes, the keyboards merely sound like desperate attempts to create a horror film soundtrack. The other instruments are just as bad, as the ones that can be distinguished behind the ...  Read the complete review