Dimensional Bleedthrough is the second album by the New York-based experimental black metal band Krallice. The album was first officially mentioned by Profound Lore Records in a mailing list dated August 31, 2009, and via Twitter.[1] This was followed by a premiere on Stereogum with one track available for preview.[2] A double vinyl release was announced on October 14, 2009, to be released by Gilead Media on February 19, 2010, though it was delayed until late May.[3] The album's title song topped NPR's Viking's Choice: Metal And Outer Sound In '09 list.[4]
| Dimensional Bleedthrough | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 10, 2009 | |||
| Genre | Black metal | |||
| Length | 77:13 | |||
| Label | Profound Lore (CD) Gilead Media (vinyl) | |||
| Krallice chronology | ||||
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| Vinyl cover | ||||
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Recording edit
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Marston's studio "Menegroth, the Thousand Caves" during June and July 2009.
Release history edit
| Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 10, 2009 | Profound Lore Records | CD | PFL-052 | digipak |
| May 2010 | Gilead Media | 2xLP | ELD-028 | Clear vinyl, 300 copies |
| May 2010 | Gilead Media | 2xLP | ELD-028 | Black vinyl, 500 copies |
Artwork edit
The CD cover is a collage made by Nick McMaster with one component drawn by Karlynn Holland. Holland also produced additional artwork for the digipak interior. The vinyl artwork is a reinterpretation of the CD cover by Holland and McMaster.
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [5] |
| AllMusic | [6] |
| The New York Times | (favorable)[7] |
| PopMatters | (8/10)[8] |
| Pitchfork | (8.0/10)[9] |
In a review for AllMusic, Phil Freeman wrote: "These songs... combine insanely focused, dual-guitar interplay with individual moments of anthemic power... This music is clearly about driving the listener out of his or her mind and into some sort of state of pure sonic bliss, and Dimensional Bleedthrough succeeds tremendously on that score... This is metal that could appeal to fans of 20th century classical music as much as extreme rock."[6]
Ben Ratliff of The New York Times called the album "excellent," and stated: "this music is well composed... these songs have tons of structure: strategic repetition, moving harmony, sections that develop with new melodic strains. It's way aggressive, but it hasn't closed in on itself."[7]
Writing for PopMatters, Adrien Begrand stated that, in relation to the band's debut album, Dimensional Bleedthrough "feels a lot more a complete band effort as opposed to feeling like merely a project between two prolific guitarists," and noted that it is "fuller, punchier, stronger emphasis on a more sonically rich sound than mere icy atmospherics, with even a touch of death metal creeping in as well."[8]
Pitchfork's Grayson Haver Currin wrote that the album offers "more than the benchmarks of second-wave black metal, or even the shock-and-tone tactics of a lot of noise and industrial acts," and features guitar playing that is "as complex as it is controlled and deliberate."[9]
Casey Boland of Invisible Oranges stated that, with the album, the group has "fulfill[ed] the promise of their debut": "The band offers better riffs, more interesting song construction, fiercer vocals, and more compelling performances all around." He concluded: "Krallice impressively continue to challenge what is expected of black metal."[10]
Track listing edit
- Instead of traditional writing credits, songs are listed as being "initiated" by band members, indicating that the song was brought to completion by the band collectively. Unlike the others, track 4 was written and arranged by McMaster. Lyric credits are not included in the booklet, except to note that track 4 features text taken from a fragment by Michelangelo.
Personnel edit
- Mick Barr - guitar, vocals
- Colin Marston - guitar, recording, mixing, mastering
- Nick McMaster - bass guitar, vocals, cover art
- Lev Weinstein - drums
References edit
- ^ Bruni, Chris (August 31, 2009). "Profound Lore Closed (Sept 2 - 9)". Mailing list. Profound Lore. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ Stosuy, Brandon (September 9, 2009). "New Krallice - "Dimensional Bleedthrough" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ Bartlett, Adam (September 9, 2009). "HUGE UPDATE! News, new store items, test press contest, price drops on back catalog..." Gilead Media. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
- ^ Gotrich, Lars (December 28, 2009). "Viking's Choice: Metal And Outer Sound In '09 : NPR". National Public Radio. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- ^ H. Gorania, Jay. "Dimensional Bleedthrough review". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on November 14, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ a b Freeman, Phil. "Dimensional Bleedthrough review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ a b Ratliff, Ben (November 11, 2009). "Sounds From Around the World, Some Dark, Others Delicate". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ a b Begrand, Adrien (November 18, 2009). "Dimensional Walls Getting Thinner: The Collective Minds of Krallice". PopMatters. PopMatters Media. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ a b Currin, Grayson. "Krallice: Dimensional Bleedthrough". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
- ^ Boland, Casey (January 12, 2010). "Krallice – Dimensional Bleedthrough". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2022.