Odd Dimension – Symmetrical (2011)

Jumping out of the blue, today we have a very promising Progressive Metal band with the name of Odd Dimension. Hailing from Italy, this ‘new band’ is ready to make a strong introduction with their debut album “Symmetrical”. Featuring 47 minutes of music, this release is one of the strongest Power Metal releases of 2011 we have received so far.

Featuring lush keyboard arrangements, powerful singing, solid guitar work and tight drumming, this band has all the elements needed to be successful in such a competitive genre. One of the best elements of “Symmetrical” has to be the solid songwriting abilities that the band has, since ‘everybody’ can be great at their instruments, is how they put the songs together that separates a great band from the rest.

Starting with the high intensity “Farewell to the Stars” song, this album shows its full promise with great vocals and intense musical passages. In this song you get an idea of the band’s influences by hearing snippets of Dream Theater, Symphony X, etc. In the second song “Rising through Light” we listen to the band develop their sound more naturally and this track feels less like somebody else.

After the initial calm moments of “The Ecstasy of Hopes”, the band quickly builds up this song with nice melodic guitars and keyboard arrangements. The buildup until the vocal sections is pretty good and provides the listener ample room to enjoy the instruments before having to focus on the vocals. The ballad-like sections of “Another Shore” make it our favorite song of the album and show a very different (and more melancholic) side of the band since it also adds harsh and female vocals.

The album really starts picking up with “Another Shore”, and it’s followed by the brilliant “The Day Meets the Night”. In this song you can hear crushing guitar solos, brilliant vocal melodies and the overall progressive feeling that makes you shiver in top releases of the genre. “Light Speed Journey” opens like a pop-song or something that I would expect in the general radio, but it quickly develops into a very solid piece with a very nice bass guitar line.

Just before you think things can’t get any better, the band closes the album with the anthemic “I’ll be Back Once More”. In this Heavy Metal-inspired song, Manuel Candiotto blows us away with his gifted vocals while the guitars provide catchy riffs and the keyboards perform some background acrobatics.

In general, we have to say that “Symmetrical” is an excellent debut release for this young and talented band. We can only hope the band keeps up the good work and releases something even more impressive next time, but before that, make sure you buy this release from Scarlet Records.

Release: March 22nd, 2011

Country: Italy