Dimman
Songs And Tales Of Grievance
Inverse Records
July 30th, 2021
Playing time: 41:55
You almost don’t believe it. The Finnish Modern Melodic Death Metal (o-ton press flyer) band Dimman has already existed since 2014. Since then, three EPs and six singles have been released. And the line-up also seems to be quite constant. But it was only at the end of July this year that the debut album “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” was released. The album was recorded mixed and mastered by Santeri Peltomäki (Entropy Mixing). Only the drum tracks were recorded at Watercastle Studio by Arttu Sarvanne. The powerful production emphasises the band’s versatile compositions. Thematically, the album addresses all the ills and insecurities that cause suffering to both the individual and the community. This is also stated in the press info.
At the first chords of “Ambuscade” you ask yourself, where is the announced melodic part to the Death Metal. Valtteri Halkola growls so angry. In addition, there are extremely thrashy guitar riffs. That only changes after three quarters of a minute. Suddenly the guitars sound clean and calm. Female singer Jenna Kohtala enters with a beguiling voice. The contrast couldn’t be stronger. This is the prelude to the interplay of “Beauty and the Beast”. But the songstress can also rock, as she proves shortly afterwards. The tempo changes between melting away and rocking wildly. Sometimes poppy, as in parts of “Paroxysm”, then rocking again, as in the same song. Like a chameleon changes its colours, the sound changes its sound and tempo. The double bass drives everything forward, while melodic guitar solos seem quite catchy. So it goes on, with speed thrash elements (“Obscenity”), anthemic (“Contretemps”) or with thrash/oldschool metal (“Morbus”). Even a contemplative power/piano ballad has found its way onto the album (“Progradation”). However, without any vocals. You don’t hear something like that too often. But a power ballad with vocals follows only a little later (“Memoria”). Here even the growls sound “foam-braked” for the most part. Although, the shouter doesn’t quite keep it up until the end. Umbra” is also melodic over long parts. Dimman saved the best for last. “The Mist” is an extremely multi-layered song. Is there such a thing as progressive death? That would describe the album’s bouncer well.
I find the cover of “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” quite marginal. But if you don’t let that put you off and get through the first forty-five seconds, you will be rewarded with a diversified and worth listening album. The classification mentioned at the beginning can be agreed with without any compromises. Both, lovers of Death as well as Melodic Metal will get their money’s worth here.
Dimman – Paroxysm (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/lm02EnUCEps
Lineup:
Jenna Kohtala – Vocals
Valtteri Halkola – Vocals
Jaakko Yli-Sorvari – Guitars
Mikael Haapala – Guitars
Elias Halkola – Bass
Arto Pieksämäki – Drums
Track list:
- Ambuscade
- Paroxysm
- Obscenity
- Contretemps
- Morbus
- Progradation
- Imprudence
- Memoria
- Umbra
- The Mist
You almost don’t believe it. The Finnish Modern Melodic Death Metal (o-ton press flyer) band Dimman has already existed since 2014. Since then, three EPs and six singles have been released. And the line-up also seems to be quite constant. But it was only at the end of July this year that the debut album “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” was released. The album was recorded mixed and mastered by Santeri Peltomäki (Entropy Mixing). Only the drum tracks were recorded at Watercastle Studio by Arttu Sarvanne. The powerful production emphasises the band’s versatile compositions. Thematically, the album addresses all the ills and insecurities that cause suffering to both the individual and the community. This is also stated in the press info.
At the first chords of “Ambuscade” you ask yourself, where is the announced melodic part to the Death Metal. Valtteri Halkola growls so angry. In addition, there are extremely thrashy guitar riffs. That only changes after three quarters of a minute. Suddenly the guitars sound clean and calm. Female singer Jenna Kohtala enters with a beguiling voice. The contrast couldn’t be stronger. This is the prelude to the interplay of “Beauty and the Beast”. But the songstress can also rock, as she proves shortly afterwards. The tempo changes between melting away and rocking wildly. Sometimes poppy, as in parts of “Paroxysm”, then rocking again, as in the same song. Like a chameleon changes its colours, the sound changes its sound and tempo. The double bass drives everything forward, while melodic guitar solos seem quite catchy. So it goes on, with speed thrash elements (“Obscenity”), anthemic (“Contretemps”) or with thrash/oldschool metal (“Morbus”). Even a contemplative power/piano ballad has found its way onto the album (“Progradation”). However, without any vocals. You don’t hear something like that too often. But a power ballad with vocals follows only a little later (“Memoria”). Here even the growls sound “foam-braked” for the most part. Although, the shouter doesn’t quite keep it up until the end. Umbra” is also melodic over long parts. Dimman saved the best for last. “The Mist” is an extremely multi-layered song. Is there such a thing as progressive death? That would describe the album’s bouncer well.
I find the cover of “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” quite marginal. But if you don’t let that put you off and get through the first forty-five seconds, you will be rewarded with a diversified and worth listening album. The classification mentioned at the beginning can be agreed with without any compromises. Both, lovers of Death as well as Melodic Metal will get their money’s worth here.
Dimman – Paroxysm (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/lm02EnUCEps
Lineup:
Jenna Kohtala – Vocals
Valtteri Halkola – Vocals
Jaakko Yli-Sorvari – Guitars
Mikael Haapala – Guitars
Elias Halkola – Bass
Arto Pieksämäki – Drums
Label: Inverse Records
Out: July 30th, 2021
Playing time: 41:55
Track list:
- Ambuscade
- Paroxysm
- Obscenity
- Contretemps
- Morbus
- Progradation
- Imprudence
- Memoria
- Umbra
- The Mist
You almost don’t believe it. The Finnish Modern Melodic Death Metal (o-ton press flyer) band Dimman has already existed since 2014. Since then, three EPs and six singles have been released. And the line-up also seems to be quite constant. But it was only at the end of July this year that the debut album “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” was released. The album was recorded mixed and mastered by Santeri Peltomäki (Entropy Mixing). Only the drum tracks were recorded at Watercastle Studio by Arttu Sarvanne. The powerful production emphasises the band’s versatile compositions. Thematically, the album addresses all the ills and insecurities that cause suffering to both the individual and the community. This is also stated in the press info.
At the first chords of “Ambuscade” you ask yourself, where is the announced melodic part to the Death Metal. Valtteri Halkola growls so angry. In addition, there are extremely thrashy guitar riffs. That only changes after three quarters of a minute. Suddenly the guitars sound clean and calm. Female singer Jenna Kohtala enters with a beguiling voice. The contrast couldn’t be stronger. This is the prelude to the interplay of “Beauty and the Beast”. But the songstress can also rock, as she proves shortly afterwards. The tempo changes between melting away and rocking wildly. Sometimes poppy, as in parts of “Paroxysm”, then rocking again, as in the same song. Like a chameleon changes its colours, the sound changes its sound and tempo. The double bass drives everything forward, while melodic guitar solos seem quite catchy. So it goes on, with speed thrash elements (“Obscenity”), anthemic (“Contretemps”) or with thrash/oldschool metal (“Morbus”). Even a contemplative power/piano ballad has found its way onto the album (“Progradation”). However, without any vocals. You don’t hear something like that too often. But a power ballad with vocals follows only a little later (“Memoria”). Here even the growls sound “foam-braked” for the most part. Although, the shouter doesn’t quite keep it up until the end. Umbra” is also melodic over long parts. Dimman saved the best for last. “The Mist” is an extremely multi-layered song. Is there such a thing as progressive death? That would describe the album’s bouncer well.
I find the cover of “Songs And Tales Of Grievance” quite marginal. But if you don’t let that put you off and get through the first forty-five seconds, you will be rewarded with a diversified and worth listening album. The classification mentioned at the beginning can be agreed with without any compromises. Both, lovers of Death as well as Melodic Metal will get their money’s worth here.
Dimman – Paroxysm (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/lm02EnUCEps
Lineup:
Jenna Kohtala – Vocals
Valtteri Halkola – Vocals
Jaakko Yli-Sorvari – Guitars
Mikael Haapala – Guitars
Elias Halkola – Bass
Arto Pieksämäki – Drums
Label: Inverse Records
Out: July 30th, 2021
Playing time: 41:55
Track list:
- Ambuscade
- Paroxysm
- Obscenity
- Contretemps
- Morbus
- Progradation
- Imprudence
- Memoria
- Umbra
- The Mist
Overall
-
Album - 8/10
8/10
-
Cover-Art - 7/10
7/10
-
Songwriting - 8/10
8/10
