ODD DIMENSION

2011's Symmetrical and the 2013's Last Embrace to Humanity established Odd DImension as an adventurous prog-power band willing to try unconventional song structures and radio pop crooning, before dissappearing into obscurity like many others in the ungrateful progressive metal genre. Well, in 2021 these bombastic Italians have returned, with only two fifths of the original lineup, but the ambition to create something grand - a whole space opera. So how does it sound? Epic and sweeping, but overall less metallic and more in line with a heavy neo-prog or even a hard rock sound. The long songs avoid the typical verse-chorus formula and take a while to develop, unraveling rather like chapters in a story with successive musical themes, and for this reason might take some time to sink in. Minus a point for the cringy narrative voices.

Debut album from Italian pompous power metal proggers. From your "pompous power" father you've got over-the-top vocals, bone- crunching production, vaguely fantasy lyrics and straight forward rhythm section. From prog mother - hyperactive keys and ever-morphing melodic lines and song structures.

Their second album, Last embrace to humanity, is better in my opinion, but still keeps with the same general style, so unless you are completist, you'd be happy with the second album. But this is still a quality debut, thankfully the band have around for a while. It's an amalgamation of the various sub-genres influencing prog metal sound - symphonic metal a la Rhapsody (Farewell to stars), cheesy 80s metal (Light speed journey), organ driven 70 s heavy rock with polyphonic vocal (I'll be back some more), even some extreme character vocals (Another shore, thankfully by their second album, like British band Haken, they would this unneccasary aping from gothic bands). By their second album, they would at the same time more proggy and pop, with more refined songwriting, which, honestly, even then feels somewhat chaotic.

Overall, this is clearly ambitious metal, not just metal with some progressive touches, as most of the so-called progressive metal bands are. So I am kind of surprised that Odd Dimension have many reviews on the traditional metal sites and not on progressive sites.

If I were into labeling bands according to their influences, Odd Dimension would certainly fall into the Dream Theater-clone realm. They really do sound quite a bit like them in some respects, but I find myself enjoying them all the same. I'm not sure what it is, but I'll try to explain.

First of all, Odd Dimension does tend to lean to the power metal side of things. This is nothing new, but I'm known to like a good power prog metal album here and there, of which a good example is the new album from Illusion Suite. "The Last Embrace to Humanity" has nothing on that album, but it is certainly enjoyable all the same. The band pulls off some stunning technical jams, but they do tend to keep a fair amount of melody present. The piano that is sometimes used is particularly pleasant. The crunching guitars have a healthy power to them that tends to create a harsh environment up against which the piano sounds even more delicate and sweeping. So, as far as instrumentation goes, this album has chops.

My main issue with this album is the vocals. If you know my preferences, you'll note that I really don't like the crooning style of James Labrie. In fact, I hate it. Odd Dimension doesn't have the high-pitch factor, but there is some awful crooning at times all the same. On top of that, the vocals melodies are just not there. This is the weakest part of the album, as some stunning vocal melodies would have really elevated the album overall.

Anyways, prog metal fans will love this album for its great metal characteristics, but I can't overtly recommend it to all prog fans mainly because of the vox issues. Other than that, this is a good album that could signal good things to come.

What is up with all the Dimensions? First, there were the X's - Racer X, Planet X, Symphony X. Now Odd Dimension, Fourth Dimension, SEVENTH Dimension?! To give credit to the "Odd", they have a pretty little ornate logo (the way that little d's a wrtitten) and a moniker - they call themselves the Odds for short.

Anyway, Odd Dimension play mid-tempo progressive power metal, or what I call Dreamtheater-lite, that is, Dreamtheater without the long solos, overt technicality or crazy time sigs, with Symphony X elements mixed during the more thrashy section. In fact, Odd Dimension could be called a textbook example of this style. Closest example that comes to mind are Germany's Dreamscape of their 5th season album.

Loud, full-bodied production? Check. Powerhouse vocals sung in an awkward foreign accent (reminding of fellow Italians Rhapsody)? Check. Many twists and turns during the longer songs ending not the way they began (Under my creed and Fortune and pain being the more impressive examples)? Check. A few cheesy mid-tempo hard rockers with multi-tracked instruments (piano-guitar, acoustic-electric)? Check.

Why is this talented band even more obscure than excellent, but relatively obscure prog metal bands such as Vanden Plas or Seventh Wonder? One answer is understandably the Italians' newness (two albums) and promotion issues. But another, I suspect, is their lack of originality and inferior songwriting compared to the giants. Don't take me wrong, this is a talented band and fans of DT, Symphony X or Blind Guardian should definitely take at least a spin. I wish that they were better known and promoted, including here on PA. But I just don't see how they could stand out in an overpopulated genre.

If classic progressive metal in the vein of Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Vanden Plas is your preferred style of listening, you might have become acquainted with the Italians in Odd Dimension by their 2011 debut offering, Symmetrical - and if you haven't, they've returned in 2013 with an even better release. Entitled The Last Embrace to Humanity, Odd Dimension's sophomore observation is one of the strongest examples of melodic progressive metal that you're likely to hear this year, and while it isn't a boundary-breaker by any stretch, it's a professional product from all fronts with some irresistibly memorable compositions.

Whether it's the heavy riffs in "The Unknown King", melodic chorus in "It's So Late" (one of the most beautiful tunes I've heard this year!), or technical instrumental ending to "Fortune and Pain", everything about The Last Embrace to Humanity is likely to resonate with fans of progressive metal in some way or another. Odd Dimension may not shatter any expectations here, but the result is so tremendous that it's tough to complain. Highly recommended!

Italian prog metal band Odd Dimension has been around for almost a decade, but 2011 finally saw the release of their debut full-length album, Symmetrical. Odd Dimension doesn't have the most groundbreaking sound in the world, but their talent as musicians is impeccable and the songwriting department is often excellent as well. I can't consider Odd Dimension's debut to be essential, but it's surely above average and promising. If they can further expand upon the formula they've created here, I can sense an excellent sophomore album coming from this direction. Symmetrical is ultimately a good listen for all prog metal fans, even if it does little to stand out from the competition.

Symmetrical is progressive metal with nods in the direction of Fates Warning, Dream Theater, and Vanden Plas. Odd Dimension adds a few symphonic metal influences that keep them from being a complete "clone" band, though. Even though they may not be the most adventurous act out there, Odd Dimension delivers progressive metal in a top-notch fashion. Despite a few compositions that fail to capture me, the vast majority of the album is extremely enjoyable. My favorite track is probably "I'll Be Back Once More" which features some excellent vocals from Manuel Candiotto and great synth lines from Max Capra. The rest of the music is very good, albeit fairly standard, progressive metal. Odd Dimension is a professional band, and the musicianship is phenomenal throughout Symmetrical. Unfortunately, one of my biggest gripes with the album is the production, which sounds somewhat muffled and has a few technical hiccups. A better sound would've improved my overall experience significantly.

Symmetrical is a very good, sometimes even great, debut from Odd Dimension that I'd recommend fans of prog metal in the Dream Theater camp to check out. These Italian lads will have to work out a few issues if they really want to amaze me with their next album, but this is still a promising and highly enjoyable effort. Symmetrical isn't an essential release, but I've had a fun time listening to it so 3.5 stars are warranted here. I'm hopeful for the future of Odd Dimension!