Dimensions was the third and final release from Christian technical metal upstarts Believer, a strong end to a promising and sadly too short career. Originally released in 1993 on Roadrunner Records, Dimensions still sounds fresh and unique today, its mixing of thrash metal, classical, and progressive rock no doubt slightly ahead of its time some 15 years ago. The band employed an expanded line-up this time around, and you can tell by listening to the music, as the classical leanings play a more important role in a few of the songs here. Featuring vocalist/guitarist Kurt Bachman and drummer Joey Daub, they are joined here by lead guitarist/bassist Jim Winters, violin player Scott Laird, Glenn Fischbach on cello, sporano singer Julianne Laird, and William Keller on narrations. While the album contains some brutal examples of technical & extreme thrash, such as "Gone", "Future Mind", "No Apology", and "What Is But Cannot Be", complete with complex guitar riffery, nimble drum work, and Bachman's gutteral vocals, it's the more adventurous pieces like "Dimentia" and the 20-minute, four-part "Trilogy of Knowledge" that really provide the mind-blowing moments on this release. "Dimentia" is prime progressive metal, littered with sizzling musical interplay that combines both metal savagery and lush classical strings that culminates in a fantastic ride. The epic "Trilogy of Knowledge" is another beast entirely, as it comes across like a mix between Apocalypse era Mahavishnu Orchestra and Death's Human album. With lush strings and Julianne's soaring vocals doing battle with crushing complex metal and Bachman's tortured snarl, this extended piece is a tour-de-force of avant-garde, progressive metal. Both Laird and Fischback get ample opportunity to let it rip on their respective violin & cello, giving this piece a neat classical flavor.
The band unfortunately fell apart after the recording of this album, and each member decided to pursue other interests. The only member who really kept up a career in music was drummer Daub, who wound up in progressive metal band Fountain of Tears. It's a real shame that the lads in Believer couldn't keep the fires going, as over their brief three-album career they really created some groundbreaking music that showed amazing instrumental talent and the ability to put together some insightful lyrics steeped in religion and philosphy. According to the essay in the booklet, both Daub and Bachman are writing together again, so perhaps we haven't seen the last of Believer. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Track Listing
1. Gone
2. Future Mind
3. Dimentia
4. What Is But Cannot Be
5. Singularity
6. No Apology
7. Trilogy of Knowledge: The Birth
8. Trilogy of Knowledge: The Lie
9. Trilogy of Knowledge: The Truth
10. Trilogy of Knowledge: The Key
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