Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

Most of the time when writing reviews, I like to listen to the album I’m reviewing in the background but with this one I don’t think that will be necessary. This album pretty much consumed my early teenage years and leads me to greater, much blacker things. Dimmu Borgir needs no introduction due to the hatred they receive by black metal enthusiasts (sometimes known as elitists) that I think is not as deserving as they will tell you. Dimmu Borgir put together a symphonic/black album that has people in an uproar. I think it kicks ass but that’s just me. I wish I could explain why this album left such an impression on me but it did and I’m glad it did.

As soon as the album starts, you know what you’re in for. A nice intro before the madness begins. It’s sort of like walking into hell and not knowing what to expect. Then “Blessings upon the Throne of Tyranny” begins. The riff in the beginning probably will get stuck in your head for hours as it is an extremely awesome riff. The song is long and will (or should) keep you engrossed the whole time. It’s fast and melodic and just amazing. “Kings of the Carnival Creation” is another insane creation from the once black metal minds of Dimmu Borgir. This album really isn’t even black metal at all. The vocals, at times, remind me of the old Dimmu days when Satan was at the forefront but this new less Satan look isn’t too bad, in fact it’s awesome. “Indoctrination” has some of the heaviest moments in the entire Dimmu catalog. “Puritania” is a very heavy song and is weird at times but always seems to leave an impression on me. “Architecture of a Genocidal Nature” has some of that blackened Dimmu flare and one of the coolest, most evil parts in a song ever.

The production is perfect, maybe too perfect. Maybe a little too much overproducing is what gave this album such a hard time finding its place in the black metal community. Everything sounds perfect. The drums are the highlight of the album, how they are played and they way they sound. The guitars are heavy as fuck. The bass is too quite but has a few moments. Shagrath’s vocals are in perfect from as usual but maybe using a bit too much of voice distortion at times.

This album is good, try not to listen to the people who will tell you they sold out and all that shit. Yes, they did move on from pure black metal but that doesn’t mean they’re pure shit. Just give this album a chance.

Best tracks – “Kings of the Carnival Creation”, “Architecture of a Genocidal Nature”, and “Indoctrination”