CoC : Dimension - Universal : Review

Dimension - _Universal_
(Independent, 2002)
by: Adrian Bromley (5 out of 10)

I found it kind of cool to receive a progressive metal release from Mexico, as we at Chronicles of Chaos usually receive mostly death metal and black metal bands from that part of the world. No doubt highly influenced and inspired by solid progressive metal acts like Dream Theater and Fates Warning, this Mexican quintet play their hearts out on this album, but at times it sounds like they are trying too hard. Some of the problems I found myself a little irritated with on the album included the vocals and their delivery. They sound a tad forced to go along with the rapid, quick-change flow of the music. Also, the keyboards sound too loud in the mix. While there isn't a lot of it here, when the keyboards do come into the picture, they take center stage, when they should be part of the musical collage. Dimension is a band that plays their music superbly (check out majestic nine-minute opener "Strategy", "Vanity Calls" and "Universal Mind"), but need a little bit more tweaking before they can be put on the same pedestal with the bands they obviously admire.

Contact: http://www.dimensionshome.com

(article published 3/7/2002)