arcane-beautiful Having pretty much grabbed the metal world's attention with their 3rd release “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”, the band decided to bite back, with a rather harsh and sharp bite with this album. Being a rather distant sequel compared to the previous album, this album is a bigger foot in the direction of the band's more recent material.

Faster, more aggressive and more dramatic than any of their other albums, it is a big change for the band and turns more towards the traditional black metal sound that dominated the late 90's and early 2000's. Now the band did make a big change with their next album, but this album is rather unique in its sound and style. The songs are faster at times and the mood is definitely darker. The band line up changed, with the additional of Astennu playing lead guitar on the album and the addition of Vortex on vocals (who would soon become a full member of the band) providing a very different dimension to the band. In fact, it could be argued that this album sounds like a faster Arcturus at times. One problem I have with the album is that their newer sound on this album did take away certain characteristics off the bands sound which in my opinion made the band more unique leaving the album to sound like every black metal band out at around this time this album was released.

Lyrically the band have moved into even more evil territory on this album, with more references to Satan and black magic. In fact, some of the lyrics even take dips into rather sexual territory which is something very different for the band. Nagash's lyrics on the album are also a brilliant addition, woth Silenoz taking a rest on the penmanship of the lyrics. Also, the artwork is pretty epic too.

The opening track “Reptile” is a pretty great intro the album. Fast and furious, the song is able to successfully mix Shagrath's icy cold growls to Vortex's luscious tones, with some pretty kick ass guitar work throughout.

One of the most interesting tracks on the album has to be “The Promised Future Aeons.” Starting off with a low synth intro, the song explodes into a big and epic track with some pretty cool twists and turns throughout.

The real highlight of the album comes in the form of “The Insight & The Catharsis.” A brilliant piece of music which mixes then bands heavier side with some brilliant vocals from Vortex throughout. A great build up throughout with an amazing pay off at the end.

One of the most dramatic tracks on the album “Grotesquery Conceiled (Within Measureless Magic).” Mixing demonic narrations with deafening screams and mad Disney sounding music throughout, the song really is a feat of excellence.

The album's closer “Arcane Lifeforce Mysteria” is an interesting tune. Starting off with a keyboard intro which sounds like something out of a Rush song, the song explodes into a dark yet beautiful affair.

In conclusion, this is definitely up there with one of Dimmu's heaviest affairs. While it may not be a personal favourite of mine, it still shows off some brilliant skill from then band and how they can create very unique albums. Probably the band's most evillest album.

7.7/10

Genres: Black Metal, Extreme Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Progressive Metal

Country of origin: Norway

Year of release: 1999

Warthur Spiritual Black Dimensions is somewhat faster and a bit more engaging than Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, and is certainly a fun enough experience when I'm listening to it. But once the music's over I find I can't remember a shred of it. I'm not one to decry black metal bands for not being kvlt enough, and nor do I instinctively turn my nose up at this sort of symphonic approach to extreme metal, but on the whole I find Spiritual Black Dimensions to be a little shallow. It's disposable snack metal - something that's pleasant enough to chew on momentarily but isn't going to nourish you in the long term.

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.

1967/ 1976 "Spiritual Black Dimension" is a great album of a great band, son of Norway but that plays a great Symphonic Black Metal in the way of Wagner. Because of this the keyboards and synths have a particular role in the economy of "Spiritual Black Dimension"£ final result. Not because keys or synths have a fundamental role but because the sound carpet is extreme. And if I speak of perfection a song as "The Promised Future Aeons" is the perfection: Great long Folk (with Synths) intro... Great pure Black Metal rest of song!!!

I'm not a fan of Black Metl, of course but an album as this is an album without genre I think that "Spiritual Black Dimension" is an album for all who love the pure magic of great music. In some moment, in fact, "Spiritual Black Dimension" is also a pure Symphonic Rock, Classic Music, Progressive Metal... In a great substance "Spiritual Black Dimension" is an album of World Music disguised as black metal (as if this is important).

No other words exit from my head in relation of this album. Excuse me. But an album that I call "Masterpiece" speaks with music and not with words.