Dimmu Borgir Album: “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia”

Dimmu Borgir is:

Vocals - Shagrath

Guitar - Galder

Guitar - Silenoz

Keyboard - Mustis

Bass - Vortex

Drums - Nicholas Barker

Dimmu Borgir is Norway,s premier black metal band at its best!! This album is great, not containing a sore song anywhere. The musicianship is extraordinary and the production is much better than that of your typical black metal band. The music on this cd is more brutal than "Death Cult Armeggedon," the band's newest album, but this album contains more musical shifts and more complex art within each individual song. The addition of an orchestra fills in those eerie evil moments. Although it is not a full blown orchestra, such as the one from Prague that they used for "Death Cult Armaggedon", it still adds to its complex musical structure.

Of, course, there is one downfall of their lyrical structure: It reveals they are blatantly satanic. The lyrics are well thought out and VERY complex, but once you realize what its trying to say it goes downhill from there..... But through most of the cd it wouldn't really matter because you can't really interpret what Shagrath is saying. One thing I do appreciate about Shagrath's singing is that he doesn't have violent screams for singing. Instead he sings in a deep thrash voice, which allows the listener to listen without having to clench his face every time he hears Shagrath singing. When Vortex comes along though, you can really sense the world getting darker around you. His voice is hauntingly awesome and it adds to the demonic aspect of the music.

1. Fear and Wonder - 5/5 - Excellent peice performed by Dimmu's guest orchestra. The violins and cellos prepares you with a dark feel of the music so you'll be prepared for the rest of the cd.

2. Blessing's Upon the Throne of Tyranny - 5/5 - Awesome title, even better music. There are many riff switches in this song, keeping you headbanging nonstop. A couple mini breakdowns too, which are always nice additions.

3. King's of the Carnival Creation - 5/5 - Great song, diverse from any other black metal song I have heard. The verse contains lighting fast heretas (drum term) performed by Nick on the double bass. This is first song on cd that introduces Vortex's clean haunting voice.

4. Hybrid Stygmata: The Apostacy - 5/5 - A beast of a song, begin with an orchestra, and Shagrath screams out of nowhere, thus beginning the headbanging. Catchy guitar riffs backed up by the orchestra. The song starts to go peaceful when Vortex starts to sing. 4 or 5 tempo changes within the song also.

5. Architecture of a Genocidal Nature - 4/5 - One of those songs where you don't know what's gonna happen next. First 100 mph music, then it goes to soft style, and back to the 100 mph music.

6. Puritania - 6/5 - This song blew me away. "We do away with your kind" and then came the countdown and out popped the guitar. Best song on the cd, but unfortunately, the shortest. This song is the easiest to understand lyrically. It's basically about cleansing the world of the human race.

7. IndoctriNation - 5/5 - Fastest song on the cd besides "Maelstrom Mephisto". Very melodic sections between the verses. Then out of nowhere comes an orchestral solo with a voice speaking in the background. Intensely evil.

8. The Maelstrom Mephisto - 5/5 - Another great song. THE fastest song on the cd. I'm surprised Nick didn't pass out while recording this because he is amazingly fast. My favorite appearance of Vortex is on this song, his voice is so hauntingly beautiful. Especially when backed up by orchestral and drum movements.

9. Absolute Sole Right - 4/5 - Not the best song on the album in my opinion, but still excellent if comparing to other band's music. Another speed it up song like "The Maelstrom Mephisto" and "IndoctriNation."

10. Sympozium - 5/5 - Best orchestral tune I think. If you take out the drums, it sounds like the intro to a horror movie. Completely haunting, and the guitar parts in this song reminds me of Children of Bodom's style. Shagrath's voice adds to the haunting aspects of the song.

11. Perfection or Vanity - 5/5 - It would have been a 6, but it was too short and repetive. AWESOME melody though. A kind of haunting song but also kind of gives you a sense of hope and awakening. You could almost, ALMOST classify it as a concept album if you look at it theme and morale wise.

This was great Dimmu Borgir album and I HIGHLY recommend any metal listener to check it out.........IMMEDIATELY!!!!

John

I work in a record store so I was able to hear Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia before it's release date. I have been looking forward to it's release so that I could find out other people's opinions of this record. I have to rely Amazon to get other opinions because I don't know of anybody else in my town that listens to black metal.

The first thing that stood out to me on this album was the excellent production. It sounds great. Especially the drums. One complaint about Dimmu Borgir's previous release, Spiritual Black Dimensions, is that the drums weren't up enough in the mix (especially the bass drum.) That is not the case here. I am not a fan of Cradle of Filth, so when I heard that Nicholas was replacing Tjodalv (one fo my favorite drummers) I was bummed. Well Nicholas has totally earned my respect here. I had no idea that he coud pull off blast-beats like this. I think that his style fits in well with Shagrath's/Silenoz's/Mustis's songwriting.

I was glad to find out that Vortex is now a permanent member of the band. His clean vocals are a real treat. I enjoyed his work with Borknagar and Arcturus as well as his contribution to Spiritual Black Dimentions. I wish that he sang a little more on this album because his clean voice is a great compliment to Shagrath's screech. The music seems to be a little more guitar-driven than usual. While the keyboards are still very prominent (it wouldn't be Dimmu Borgir otherwise) the songs seem to revolve more around guitar riffs. It sounds great though.

Another thing worth mentioning is Galder of Old Man's Child. As I understand, he did not join the band until after most of the songwriting was completed. He mostly just played the guitar solos. So if you are like me, we will have to wait until the next album to find out how he will truly contribute to the band's style. (I am happy that he will continue Old Man's Child as well as play guitar for DM.)

There is really only one thing that I am a little uncomfortable with on this album, and that is the sampling. There are some songs that have samples here and there. They don't really hurt the songs, but they don't really seem necessary. In my opnion, the last thing that black metal needs is any hint of 1990's style radio-metal. But if they wanted them there, that is ok with me (After all, it is their band.) I just hope that it isn't a sign of things to come. I am not worried about Dimmu Borgir getting any radio play anytime soon, I just hope they don't start to put alot of electronic elements in their music.

Overall, I am very pleased with this album. If you are already a fan of Dimmu Borgir, you should not be dissappointed by PEM. They are heavier than ever, and the elements that make their music beautiful are still there. Lyricaly, the album has nothing new to offer, but I doubt that anyone expects to hear much of anything else besides all the Satan stuff (personally, I think it gets old quick.) But Dimmu Borgir is all about the music for me. The band may not appreiciate this point of view, but I don't feel that I have to be Satanic to enjoy their CDs. If you are new to Dimmu Borgir, I recomend buying this album, but I would start off your collection with Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. It is my favorite release of their's and I think that it is one of the best black metal albums ever.

One last thing.....Cool pictures in the sleeve.

Before I get into the album, I'd just like to say a few things....

1. If you try dissing Dimmu, try to read up on musical theory before embarrassing yourself. I've seen some reviews here complaining aobut certain elements in their music- keyboards, the pounding drums, etc. Guess what? It follows musical theory better than [almost] any other black metal band. And if you can't handle their keyboards, go suck on a pacifier, you big baby....

2. For those who think Dimmu's soooooooooo commercial, I've got some news for you- they're not. Do you see them making twenty five music videos like little nu-metal hosers? No. Do you see little kids walking around with Dimmu shirts and albums? No. Stop calling them commercial and just listen to their music, THAT's what's important.

3. Some people have claimed these guys aren't black metal for the dumbest of reasons. Shut up! Wow, they use a keyboard, you'd better go crap yourself. I guess those people must be afraid of decently written music or something......grow up......

Now, onto the album itself.

PEM's awesome. Good song structure, image following lyrics, and Shagrath. The instrumental talent these guys possess doesn't match up to Children of Bodom (what does), but it's all good. They get their point across. Vortex or whoever did the clean singing was wonderful- he knows how to sing better than any male artist I've known, and truly sings from the heart. Purely awesome, even if he rarely sings throughout the whole thing.

Song-wise, this album has some gems. Puritania, for example. Lovely combo of black and industrial metal, with some good vocals. Every song is written to its potential instrumentally, I can't imagine them being much different. However, as with all black metal bands, this album needs work lyrically. I'm happy they're all against organized religion, but it gets old after two hundred bands do it.

If you think these guys are image-heavy, please think it over. They act tough and mean, but don't worry, they're like the rest of us- they complain about how greasy American fast food is, etc. I was somewhat upset by seeing them discuss these things, but also relieved. So before you dismiss them as hard, evil crap, just know they're also typical humans.

Puritanical Euophoric Misanthropia is probably the best Dimmu Borgir effort yet... With this said, I must add that I loved every single Dimmu Borgir previous release, but PEM displays a more mature sound, astonishingly complex music, well thought lyrics, and some of the most amazing drumming you'll ever get a chance hear.

I can't say I hate keyboard in metal music, on the contrary I love it if its well executed, for example bands like Borknagar, early Satyricon, Children of Bodom, Arcturus or Cradle of Filth (although if CoF is BM is debatable, but its metal music and has keyboards). I could add Dimmu Borgir to this hall of 'fame'. Dimmu's keyboard guy, Mustis, is definitely one of the most talented keyboardist I've heard.

More to the point, PEM is a brilliant album. It varies its music alot, from brutal old school BM to a more slower paced, keyboard filled and clean vocals more modern BM style. Shagrath delivers his best vocals yet, ever so raspy. On this album, Nick Barker sat behind the drums, and it seems like an 8 arm octopus is beating ... the drums and not a human being. He's truly a drumming monster. ex-Borknagar's bassist/vocalist took the bass, and delivered some heart worming clean vocals (just check Sympozium, you'll know what I mean). Silenoz as usual brings forth some of the most memorable riffs ever. And the well publicized addition, Galder himself from Old Man's Child grabbed the 2nd guitar, and oh man, he really gave life to PEM.

All in all, PEM is one of the best albums I've heard in 2001. Excellent, 2 thumbs up for Dimmu! Perfect 5 stars!

In my humble opinion, this is one of the best cds i own, Dimmu Borgir beats the absolute crap out of any other black metal band out there, they posess...(or however you spell it) a talent, that no other band could possibly hope to live up to. some of the best songs on this cd are most likely Puritania (contrary to what you think, i am the cosmic storms, not you.) and Kings Of The Carnival Creations. Please, i beg of you, buy this amazing cd.