Dimension Z
1990-unknown
As mentioned elsewhere on these pages, 1990s Greece was a lush growing-ground for Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal, yet there was quite no other act like the Cretan-based DIMENSION Z.
The band was formed in January 1990 by two members of the obscure Thrash/Noisecore/proto-Death band CESSPOOL: Antonis Dimakis (guitars) and Dimitris/Jim Argirakis (drums). The duo soon expanded with future SELEFICE guitarist/keyboardist Petros “Peter” Mihalopoulos joining on bass and George Koutsialis as a session vocalist. With this lineup, DIMENSION Z recorded their debut demo “Cosmic Vacuum” (1990), which – despite some obvious technical shortcomings – marked the band as a unique act within the Greek Metal scene.
By the time of the band’s second demo “Incredible Connection”, Petros M. was replaced by John Kokolakis in the bass position and a new session vocalist was found in Costas Bililis (vocals – BRAINSTORM, FOUR SEASONS). A superior work in every aspect from its predecessor, “Incredible Connection” once again showed a band with plenty of potential. It’s a shame that there would be no more DIMENSION Z material, as the band appears to have split up around the time Dimitris relocated to Thessaloniki and joined HORIZON’S END for their debut demo “Future Dreams in Medieval Waves”. These guys were really onto something here...
Where other bands drew primarily on classic stuff like US heavy/power, the rawer side of Teutonic Thrash or the uprising Death/Black Metal underground, DIMENSION Z went for a more progressive and – for the Hellenic scene – unique style. Parallels can be drawn to early MERCYFUL FATE, VOIVOD, AGENT STEEL and, last but not least, WATCHTOWER. Now, although DIMENSION Z were yet to match the technical abilities of said bands, in spirit and compositional aspirations they were definitely related. Highly recommended for VOIVOD freaks or just anyone who enjoys off-kilter metal.
Compilation appearances:
* Metal Magic Vol 1 [Cass, Comp: Metal Magic Zine, 1992]
* Power Feast [Cass, Comp, Numbered: Self-released (Mass Dementia Zine), 1992]
Reissues:
The Psychosis
Cosmic Vacuum
The End (Outro)
Antonis Dimakis (guitars)
Petros Mihopoulos (bass)
Dimitris Argirakis (drums)
George Koutsialis (session vocals)
Guitarist Antonis Dimakis takes center stage, riding waves of dissonance and churning out variations on convoluted Power/Thrash riffs. Rather than adapting to the guitar lines, session vocalist George Koutsialis sings in some sort of “rhythmic counterpoint”, which helps to create a sense of space in the music. However, this leaves it up the rhythm section to keep things in check, something which bassist Petros Mihopoulos and one-time HORIZON’S END drummer Dimitris Argirakis do an admirable job at. Not so much out of sheer technical expertise (it’s a bit shaky at times), but rather through having good ears – going with the flow and adding accents at crucial points.
Conventional song structures are largely abandoned in favor of linear riff sequences, zig-zagging through shifting time signatures and jerky rhythms. Naturally, such a progressive approach to songwriting put demands not only the compositional process, but on the performance itself – unless the music is to collapse into sheer disjointedness. At this stage in their career, DIMENSION Z does walk a fine line between success and disaster, yet somehow manage to keep things together. In fact, this mercurial aspect is part of the charm of “Cosmic Vacuum”. The exhilarating sense of not knowing what’s around the corner fits well with the atmosphere of the recording, as well as with the spacey aesthetics and lyrical themes.
Written by Johan Pettersson
Reissues:
Delta (Instrumental)
Parasitic Protoplasm
Incredible Connection
Antonis Dimakis (guitars)
John Kokolakis (bass)
Dimitris Argirakis (drums)
Kostas Bililis (session vocals)
C. Tympakianakis (session keyboards)
