In spite of straying so far from its
black metal
roots as to almost seem a completely different band at times,
Dimmu Borgir
still packs a powerful punch on
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
. New guitarist
Galder
(formerly of
Old Man's Child
) nicely infuses more traditional metallic mannerisms, but the addition of drummer
Nicholas Barker
(
Cradle of Filth
and
Lock Up
) is critical. His always-punishing percussive prowess allows the seamless melding of speedy
with considerably more orchestration, this time around provided by
the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra
itself, creating a cacophony of nefarious melodies atop gothic gloom.
"Puritania"
is indicative of something the band probably would never have tried even a few years ago, a stirring descant with a myriad of vocal styles seemingly coming from all directions. A minority of purists might see this as too much of a departure, a complaint that would have more merit if
wasn't as exquisite as it is diverse. The Japanese edition features a bonus CD with two tracks, including a cheeky cover of
Twisted Sister
's
"Burn in Hell"
and two videos. ~ Brian O'Neill