The Fractured Dimension - Towards the Mysterium (2008) Self-released

This American band, of a very weird name, was founded by three musicians: a Musicians Institute graduate Alex Arellano - Malca (drums; Power of Omens), Jimmy Pitts (keyboards, piano; Super String Theory, Scholomance, S.K. Krow) and Jerry Twyford (bass, percussion; Scholomance, Super String Theory, Weedeater, Mars).

Their debut album is chiefly inspired by the music and artistic activity of Russian composer - Alexander Scriabin - one of the main representatives of Russian symbolism in music. This composer lived at the turn of 19th and 20th century, when other significant trends were romanticism and expressionism. Alexander Scriabin is the main character on the album, that’s why his composition „Strangeness“ appeared on the tracklist. Obviously, the trio makes other references to famous people from the circle of science like to Leonardo Fibonacci (Italian mathematician who lived at the turn of 12th and 13th century) and Nicolas Slonimsky (American musicologist and composer of Russian origin who passed away at the age of 101).

All fans who are deep in such a kind of music know what can be expected. „Towards the Mysterium“ includes an ultra-technical instrumental progressive metal with experimental gambits. All instrumentalists are top-class virtuosos and masters of polyphonics. It is clearly audible in Alex Arellano’s drumming madness that makes me think of playing of the likes of Atma Anur, Richard Christy and Sean Reinert. Jimmy Pitts and Jerry Twyford are as avantgarde as Alexander Scriabin was in his times. All their odd improvisations keep in suspense and prove the absolute proficiency, perfection and mastery in every detail. I am very happy that instrumentation is diverse and not only limited to rhythm section and keyboards (delivered are also parts of trumpet, violin, alto sax and tabla kit). One of the most impressive elements are Jimmy’s picturesque keyboard passages. Guitar solos are performed by the most twisted axemasters on the globe: Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower, Spastic Ink, Gordian Knot, Blotted Science), Marcel Coenen (Sun Caged, Speedica, Lemur Voice, Freak Neil Inc.), Brev Sullivan, Bill Bruce (Shotgun Messiah), Aaron Roten (Super String Theory), Tom ’Fountainhead’ Geld-Schlager, Brad Hull (Soblivios, Forced Entry, Thug, 1000 Pounds) and a fantastic fusion guitarist - Mikhal Caldwell. Who is missing? Let’s say four other cosmic freaks - Ron ’Bumblefoot’ Thal, Brian ’Buckethead’ Carroll, Chanan Hanspal and Philippe Ansari also known as Phi Yaan-Zek. I wish Jimmy, Jerry and Alex would invite the aforesaid four to share their insane talents on the second album. If you asked me for one watchword of recommendation for listening to this release, I would endorse the music of The Fractured Dimension with three words: progressive meets mathematics!