Dimmu Borgir

Spiritual Black Dimensions

Released on: 1999-03-01

Nobody said it's going to be easy. When ENTHRONE DARKNESS TRIUMPHANT was released an hithero obscure shadow emerged from the shadows of the Norwegian black metal underground and took the hearts of all fans of dark, aggressive and dramatic music by storm.

Dimmu Borgir became a synonym for the success of the most extreme and radical underground trend the heavy metal genre ever witnessed. Extensive touring and performances on all major european festivals showed the aesthetic power their majestic embodiment of evil wielded over the uninitiated. The charts of several european countries where confronted with the devil's music in undisguised splendour. Most of those fairytales are normally not destined to last forever. And I still hear the moanings of the self-styled underground elite about undue commercialisation, I still see the warning hands of morality, trying to ward of this satanic threat. Alas, none of these positions are going to last longer than the release of this album, the fourth in Dimmu Borgir's still young career.

They took the commercial success of its predecessor as an encouragement to delete all 'nice' elements from their future efforts. SPIRITUAL BLACK DIMENSION is an intense and passionate document of their uncompromising lifestyle and their spirituality beyond the articles of faith represented by society and religion. The extent of their dedication to their own universe is visible in every single song. Myriads of miniscule details form the greater, grandiose structures. Far from being onedimensional every song is at the same time pompous and relentless, tempting through its beauty and repulsive from its crushing heaviness. Between these apparent contradictions lies the power of this music, so that even the aforementioned warning hands of morality will turn around to see the head banging in a magical trance. Obviously it is not the godlike power of the fairytale's narrator, but hard work that made this album as perfect as it is. Especially the newfound members Astennu (guitar) and Mystis (keyboard) play an important role, they brought in the complexity that will make SPIRITUAL BLACK DIMENSION an album not to be removed from any player for quite a while. Also one special guest is to be found on these tracks.

During the recording session in the renowned The Abyss studio with the famous black metal producer Peter Tägtgren they brought in Borknagar's vocalist Simen Hestnæs (who also sang in Arcturus). His outstanding and eery singing is like the wailing of the infernal choir next to Shagrath's dark poetry. It' s save to say that black metal will not be the same after this album. Robert Müller (Hammer), December 1998

 

 Track list

 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

One of the leading heavy metal record labels and online shops in the world

Nuclear Blast Records is among the world's leading heavy metal online shops, when it comes to ordering CDs, vinyl records, and Blu-Ray/DVDs, as well as accessories and merchandise such as band T-shirts, hoodies, patches, and a whole lot more from the heavy metal scene. At the Nuclear Blast online metal store, you'll find over 30,000 items from more than 8,000 bands—pieces to add to your music collection, merch to get into for concerts and gigs, and stuff to gift to heavy metal fans you know. 

MUSIC

As the number one heavy metal record label, Nuclear Blast specializes in offering items from metal icons of the following genres: death metal, thrash metal, black metal, gothic, hard rock, doom, hardcore, symphonic metal, power metal, pagan metal, and progressive metal. In our online metal store, you can get your favourite albums on vinyl, including pre-ordering exclusive drops of colored vinyl bundles and other limited-edition pieces. Along with the extensive vinyl selection, you can shop for your favourite bands and all-time heavy metal classics in CDs + DVDs/Blu-Rays and box sets at Nuclear Blast online metal store.

MERCH

If you're looking for a heavy metal shop to get official merchandise from your favourite bands and artists, Nuclear Blast Records is the place to be. In our metal shop, we sell metal band-related apparel, accessories, and official fan merchandise. From band T-shirts, jackets, and hoodies to patches, pins, and other carefully selected merch and deluxe items, the Nuclear Blast online store has what any fan could ever want and need.

As soon as the goods you order are in stock or released, your order gets prepared for shipment and will be delivered within 3-5 business days. Shop from a vast range of heavy metal articles at NuclearBlast.com heavy metal online shop. Get the latest and exclusive heavy metal fan artefacts at a fair price for all those interested in T-shirts, CDs, DVDs, vinyl, and more from the leading heavy metal record label around.