Here’s a huge slab of sweeping progressive metal as good as any you’ll hear. A friend suggested I pick the album up and I’m pleased he did.
Odd Dimension are Italian. The Blue Dawn is their third album and it’s a huge, grandiose affair lending itself well to the sci-fi concept involving (as I understand it) some explorer types forced to land on “the Blue Planet” then have a bit of a tough time before it all works out in the end.
Yes – hardly an original concept, but it is so well done musically and presentationally and is a 100% winner to my ears. All the elements of top notch progressive metal are here. Soaring vocals, crisp, cutting riffs, scorching solos, throbbing basslines, mazy synths and keys and a powerhouse drumming performance which the much missed Neil Peart would be proud of.
Musically it harks back to the old days yet is modern and powerful at the same time. You’d swear you were listening to undiscovered Rush material sometimes. Dream Theatre in others – however Odd Dimension have their own style stamped all over this album.
Mission 773 opens things up with a majestic, symphonic instrumental leading in to Landing on Axtradel – a heavy, atmospheric piece with lots of those glorious synths interacting with the guitar. Glorious all the way through.
The Invasion similarly powerful and some fine vocal work going on in there too. The intro and the radio-style feedback adding to the majestic feel of the song.
Escape to the Blue Planet slows the pace a bit and is following by an instrumental (Solar Wind) which is both haunting and strangely relaxing.
That gives way to Life Creators – heavy as you like. Guitars to the fore and marvellous drumming pushing it along. Possibly the heaviest track on the album.
Next is The Blue Dawn. A sweeping, soaring ten minutes of phenomenal prog metal. Bit of a gentle intro before it takes off in to a glorious mini-epic. During the mid-section you’d swear it’s late 1970s Rush with the guitar work and synths – and on the synths, blazing work over the last couple of minutes or so as the song plays out. Have a listen:
Sands of Yazukia another heavy, heavy one as is Flags of Victory before The Supreme Being rounds things off with a well-paced and quite dark instrumental punctuated by a computerised radio style voice here and there.
I can’t get enough of this album. Sweeping, majestic, powerful, ambitious, nuanced, complex, top drawer prog metal. It rewards more with each listen as the ears pick up on different things going on.
With The Blue Dawn, Odd Dimension have come up with a fine, fine record. Make no mistake. If you like your expansive progressive stuff then you’re in for a treat.
>> ODD DIMENSION THE BLUE DAWN ON AMAZON HERE <<
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