Odd Dimension – The Blue Dawn
Release Date: 26th March 2021
Label: Scarlet Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Prog Metal
FFO: Rush, Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Ayreon, Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Riverside.
Review By: Adam Martin
The Blue Dawn is the third studio album from cult modern prog metal band Odd Dimension, and their first with new singer Jan Manenti (The Unity). Odd Dimension left a permanent mark on the international progressive metal scene with the last album they released in 2013. The band’s creative approach rejects any application to ideological or metaphysical implications, relying both music and attitude on a continuous process of collective confrontation, pluralistic vision and individual improvement. On a conceptual level, the Italian band attempted to create a soundscape to work alongside the visualisation of their existential sci-fi narrative.
When the album started, it felt very instrumental, and I was concerned that the vocals would have been an afterthought. But when the vocals do finally come in, it really helps develop the scene, especially with what Manenti does in nearly every song in using a “radio” style approach to become one of the characters in the ongoing story. Everything else he does is big and on point propelling his voice into full focus, with The Invasion perfectly demonstrating this.
Escape to Blue Planet has a very sincere sound compared to the rest, it’s a sombre part to the story and is presented well. The combination of strings and piano from Ciaccia (Keyboard) are real highlights, especially in Solar Winds where this is the main focus, and becomes a beautifully relaxing piece to enjoy in the middle of this journey.
There are many solos across all 10 songs, which Saddi (Guitar) and Ciaccia play with blistering speed and intense accuracy, all of which are memorable in their own right, following the mood and progression nicely. When driven by the rhythm duo, Andreone (Bass) and Lazzarini, (Drums) anything can happen. Life Creators shows this best when the song breaks down into a rhythm section clusterfuck only to be followed by a scorching solo on the keyboard.
The title track The Blue Dawn also features former Dream Theater’s keyboards maestro Derek Sherinia, but in spite of this, I grew bored from the generic sound. This was before I realised it was 10 minutes and full of surprises. It feels like an album in its own right, each section feels episodic, as if the band sought to condense the story into one song for an abridged version of this album. If you’re a big fan of lengthy songs, then this one’s for you.
Saying the production is great is an understatement, with everything that has been layered together here, the interesting structural concepts and the overall quality of the playing, it’s quite easy to say that it is the band’s masterpiece. For now at least, hoping they don’t take another 8 years to get around to their next album.
Overall, this is a dynamically diverse album, with an array of great moments that will either inspire you, get your fist pumping the air, or cause you to question existence and our universe’s fragile state.
(4 / 5)
