Spiritual Black Dimensions (Spiritual Black Dimensions - Dimmu Borgir)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Spiritual Black Dimensions - Dimmu Borgir
Date:	25/06/08 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Improved clean vocals.

Disadvantages: Impossible to really enjoy.

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 keyboards (so, that excludes the inaudible bass) merely regurgitate the same relentless rhythms ad nauseam, with no identifiable melodies or hooks. The only sign that anything is happening in each song is a change of speed, technically making the otherwise bland 'United in Unhallowed Grace' look progressive and avant-garde by comparison, and if it wasn't for the occasional clean singing of ICS Vortex reminding me of his tenure in Borknagar, there would be nothing to distinguish each moment from the next.

1. Reptile
2. Behind the Curtains of Night-Phantasmagoria
3. Dreamside Dominions
4. United in Unhallowed Grace
5. The Promised Future Aeons
6. The Blazing Monoliths of Defiance
7. The Insight and the Catharsis
8. Grotesquery Conceiled (Within Measureless Magic)
9. Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria

Summary: Dimmu Borgir's fourth album (1999).