Review: Twenty Second Dimension – 'Twenty Second Dimension'

This self titled EP from American rock trio Twenty Second Dimension will not only appeal to fans of  Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Alter Bridge, Creed, and their like, but will leave them curious enough for more than the five tracks on offer here. Call it, if you will, the tasty entree that sets you up nicely for the main course. Five slabs of melodic guitar-driven rock, that show enough promise for the future and hint at greater things to come. Made up of Eliot Hosenfeld (vocals/bass), Matthew Bowden (guitar/vocals), and Jeremiah Ross (drums), Twenty Second Dimension waste no time in setting their stall out. ’Afterlife’ opens up the EP with some spacey keyboards, before an ascending guitar riff gives way to the drums. Hosenfeld has a voice that, on occasions during the opener, will offer up echoes of Layne Staley, but in general, it’s familiar enough that you might expect to have heard it on American drive time radio, such is the influence of the bands named in the opening section. ‘Without You’ is up next, and sees Bowden unleashing some crunchy riffs, as the band slow it down a notch, It’s very modern rock sounding, in the style of Tremonti and Co’s softer moments, with a great vocal performance from Hosenfeld, while Ross batters the living daylights out of his kit. There’s a great chorus on this one too. With a simple chugging riff and galloping drums, ’Dreamless’ is faster than its predecessor, but the crunch is missing, and results in it being perhaps the weakest track on the EP, although the acoustic interlude is a nice touch. ‘Blindside’ has a great Black Stone Cherry feel to it musically, especially the bass and drum sound, which locks into a beefy groove that never lets up. It’s commercial enough not to scare anyone tuning in on the drive home (if any station manager feels like taking a chance on fresh new talent). ‘Good Enough’ is more of the same, but with a trippy feel to Hosenfelds’ vocals. Yet again, Bowden delivers the goods with some searing solos. A great way to round off the EP. If Napalm Death and Lamb Of God are your thing, then chances are that you will probably pass on Twenty Second Dimension, but if you dig some melodic modern rock, then lend your ears to the guys from Columbus, Ohio, and you will be in for a treat. ‘Twenty Second Dimension’ is out now digitally through Pavement Entertainment.

Review: Dave Stott