Italy is quickly becoming a hotbed for metal these days, especially power & progressive metal bands. Add 4th Dimension to the ever growing list of acts coming from that country who are doing their best show the world that Germany, Finland, and the UK aren't the only places where quality metal is created. While the band aren't doing anything necessarily groundbreaking here on their debut release The White Path to Rebirth, the CD has a great mix of soaring melodies, tasty guitar work, speedy rhythms, symphonic keyboards, and powerful vocals. If you like Freedom Call, Stratovarius, Rhapsody of Fire, early Edguy, Helloween, Labyrinth, Sonata Arctica, and Angra, then chances are 4th Dimension will be right up your alley.
The good thing about many of the songs here on The White Path to Rebirth is that they don't go full blast on the speed, which too many bands in this genre fall into. Though heavier and speedier fare such as "The Sun In My Life" and "Consigned to the Wind" will satisfy those who crave the more typical power metal formula, tracks like "Goldeneye" and "Sworn to the Flame" feature gorgeous melodies, Celtic influences, and loads of symphonic arrangements, the latter also contains some blazing guitar solos courtesy of Michele Segafredo. "Everlasting" has an almost 'Nightwish meets Symphony X' flair to it, while "A New Dimension" is pure symphonic power metal bliss. In fact, if you love loads of keyboards in your power metal, then look no further than "Labyrinth of Glass", a real classy number with layers of synths and organ from Talete Fusaro, as well as soaring vocals from frontman Andrea Bicego.
Lots of memorable songs, challenging arrangements, and great musicianship and vocals permeate The White Path to Rebirth, making it a really solid and enjoyable debut from an Italian power/prog metal band who look to have a bright future ahead of them. Thankfully, they don't go full bore into the whole 'dungeons & dragons' thing, and here have stayed away from the 20-minute epics, instead delivering a strong set of songs that show their musical and songwriting skills. As debuts go, this is a good one, and I for one will be keeping a close watch on 4th Dimension.
Track Listing
- The Sun In My Life
- Consigned To The Wind
- Goldeneyes
- Sworn To The Flame
- Everlasting
- A New Dimension
- Winter's Gone
- Labyrinth Of Glass
- Angel's Call
- Landscapes
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