Review by Allan on December 2, 2002.

If you’ve been into metal for a long time, there is a good chance that you’re big on the metal classics. Bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest are probably played on your stereo daily. If you like those bands, there is a good chance that you enjoy Iced Earth, or at least parts of their discography. Iced Earth, like you, love those classic metal bands and decided to dedicate an entire album to cover songs played solely by themselves, entitled “Tribute To The Gods”.

“Tribute To The Gods” was originally recorded for Iced Earth’s box set, “Dark Genesis”. Century Media obviously decided that it was important enough to bring to those who weren’t about to drop the cash on Iced Earth’s box set, and made “Tribute To The Gods” available for individual purchase.

As a band, Iced Earth is pretty respectable as songwriters and musicians. Since Iced Earth’s music follows in the footsteps of those classic metal bands, they’re a superior choice when it comes to choosing who should play these tribute songs.

It’s nice to hear a modern take on these older songs. The production is great, giving all of the songs a new feel. John Schaffer’s rhythm is impeccable, thunderous in energy, and precision in the truest sense of the word. Schaffer is what makes or breaks these songs when comparing them to the older versions. Matt Barlow does a good job performing the vocals as close to the originals as he can, but it’s very hard to live up to the vocals that have been imprinted in nearly everybody’s mind. Other than that, I have no complaints. Richard Christy is unquestionably an amazing drummer, and Larry Tarnowski’s lead guitar is quite impressive.

The problem with tribute albums is that it’s near impossible to recreate the songs as well as they were originally. “Tribute To The Gods” is exactly that – a tribute; not a shot at surpassing the bands that created the songs. I’m sure Iced Earth knew that when they created it, and that’s what happened with “Tribute To The Gods”. It’s a good shot, and definitely one of the better ones, but there is no way that Schaffer and Co. can make songs by Iron Maiden, Blue Öyster Cult, Judas Priest, or Alice Cooper as awesome as they already were.

Bottom Line: “Tribute To The Gods” is an album that should be picked up only by those hardcore Iced Earth fans, or anybody that craves classic metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: n/a
Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Jack on June 24, 2001.

A first when I chucked this on release, from what were then, the undisputed kings of black magic, I was mildly impressed with Dimmu Borgir’s new album. Shagrath’s vox had improved, Tjodalv had improved his furious blast beats, and they have an Australian bloke handling lead guitars, namely Astennu, things may be looking up for Dimmu Borgir, they also had Mustis on synthesizers. Then I had to back up a few notches, I mean “what the fuck?!”, “they have Mustis on synthesizers”!?! What happened to Stian and his synthesizers? Dimmu Borgir in all their infinite wisdom had decided to eject Stian Aarstad and his synthesizer skills from the band.

Aside from those factors, I will endeavour to concentrate on the rest of this CD review. If it wasn’t Dimmu Borgir, this release wouldn’t be half-bad, but the fact is, this is Dimmu Borgir, and we all know they are capable of so much more. Really this CD does make me quite sad.

This CD is not quite in the vein of their two earlier releases, and diverts slightly away from the more symphonic side of black metal. Production is top notch, as you’d expect from the Abyss Studio and Peter Tatgren. Worthy of note on "Spiritual Black Dimensions" is that Dimmu Borgir have employed their first usage of clean vocals. Borknagar’s then bassist and front man ICS Vortex handled those duties. All things considered this ain’t a half bad CD, I just expected a bit more from this overly talented outfit.

Bottom Line: If you have the rest of the Dimmu Borgir albums in your collection, then by all means buy this one, but if you don’t then I recommend "Stormblast", "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" or "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia". "Spiritual Black Dimensions" will probably turn you off Dimmu Borgir.

Rating: 7 out of 10