DIMENSION HATROSS

"Dimension Hatröss" is the fourth full-length studio album by Canadian, Quebec based progressive metal act Voivod. The album was released through Noise Records in June 1988. It´s the successor to "Killing Technology" from 1987. The original vinyl and cassette tape versions featured 8 tracks, while the CD version featured the short cover of the "Batman" theme song as bonus material.

"Killing Technology" (1987) saw Voivod exploring new progressive thrash metal territories, and the album features a more sophisticated and complex sound than the raw and intense thrash/speed metal albums which preceded it. "Dimension Hatröss" takes that new direction and runs with it. It´s a highly technically challenging release, featuring unconventional time-signatures, dissonant riffs, abrupt changes in pace and adventurous song structures. When that is said Voivod successfully maintain their raw authenticity and sometimes anarchistic punk/thrash approach. The music is so unique that it´s almost impossible to label right. Suffice to say it´s progressive metal of some sort.

Lead vocalist Denis "Snake" Bélanger has a distinct sounding voice and singing style, which isn´t exactly pretty and it´s not your typical raw staccato delivered thrash metal vocal style either. He is probably best described as a punk singer completely out of his turf, but he is quite the charming frontman and a major part of why "Dimension Hatröss" is as unique as it is. The sci-fi lyrics (which is a continued story from the preceding releases) and imagery of the preceding releases are continued on this album.

While every track on the album deserves to be mentioned as a highlight, "Tribal Convictions" is a song which deserves a mention as a standout track. Predominantly because it´s one of the most easily accessible tracks on "Dimension Hatröss" (...an by no means does it mean that it´s not a technical and challenging song), but also because Voivod opted to shoot a promotional video for that particular track, which helped them gain more attention. I always felt that the chorus to "Macrosolutions to Megaproblems" was quite catchy too, but again all songs are high quality material which strike the perfect balance between energetic and raw thrash/heavy metal and more technical and sophisticated progressive metal. In terms of understanding and discovering Voivod (if you haven´t listened to them before), "Dimension Hatröss" is probably the quintessential release by the band. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).