Dimmu Borgir
Spiritual Black Dimensions

THE REVIEW

Spiritual Black Dimensions is a gem that is too often forgotten when talking about Dimmu Borgir.
This work manages the difficult task of following Enthrone Darkness Triumphant without losing face and without sterilely repeating what made its predecessor great.

The opening is entrusted to REPTILE, a track that immediately brings Mustis' keyboards and Shagrath's vocals to the forefront, showcasing his remarkable abilities as a singer capable of surprising even with clean singing in the chorus.
Following is the devastating performance of drummer Tjodalv in the wonderful BEHIND THE CURTAINS OF NIGHT PHANTASMAGORIA.
DREAMSIDE DOMINIONS is almost moving in its contrast between the melancholic and romantic sound of the keyboards and the violence of the guitars and Shagrath's voice, thus creating something majestic and also one of their best tracks ever.
The fourth track is UNITED IN UNHALLOWED GRACE, once again majestic without losing its direct and violent impact.
A couple of wonderful guitar solos characterize the following THE PROMISED FUTURE AEONS.
The album continues to drag the listener into a final crescendo starting with the lengthy THE INSIGHT AND THE CATHARSIS, which contains one of the most beautiful keyboard interludes in Dimmu's entire discography, followed by GROTESQUERY CONCEILED.
Finally, it closes with the stunning ARCANE LIFEFORCE MYSTERIA, which begins relatively slow and relentless in its pace, only to explode accompanied by yet another phenomenal performance by Shagrath, in the finale.

Ultimately, a work to absolutely own if for no other reason than it is one of the most beautiful albums (second only, in my opinion, to Enthrone Darkness Triumphant) by the Norwegian group and symphonic black metal in general.