DIMMAN are a Melodic Death Metal band hailing from Finland. Formed in 2014, they have released only one full-length album in 2021. “Consciousness” is their sophomore release, and it has nine songs. “Remission” is first. It’s a low, slow grinder with plenty of bottom end. The main issue is that although it is frightfully weighted, it isn’t anything that you haven’t heard before. “Cease the Vengeance” sparkles with lead guitar elements that lift up the album from the previous unilateral approach of the first song. There are even some clean vocals, and they work hard on the heavy end of the song, but the riffs are just not overly inventive.

“The Acrimony” has more leads mixed in with the brutal landscape of the riffs. Again, the band concentrates mostly on the bottom end of this genre, but don’t explore enough of the other elements that can be added. Sure, it’s weighted, but there has to be more than that. “Infinitum” is another song that just blasts over and through any barriers in its path like a runaway freight train. There are some nice harmonies leads in the chorus, and the leads prove they can definitely play, but they just aren’t enough to overcome the brute weight of the song.

“Life Bereaved Him” is really the first song on the album that turns off the path a bit and into the unknown of the wild, and I applaud them for that. From there, they do revert a bit to more punishing tones, but I appreciate some of the diversion. “Regretful” has even more punishing tones, and the low and slow sound is akin to a giant smashing through concrete. Meaty bass notes help to keep the bottom end fortified. “Consciousness” brings the album to a close, and they seem to save some energy for the final song. It has a distinct vocal cadence to it, and the riffs are brutal. There is a surprise change of scenery with the clean passage, and I would like to hear more of that contrast.

Melodic Death Metal is a genre that many Metalheads are overly familiar with. In my experience, some bands take the road more travelled by excluding things like clean vocals and keyboards to keep it pure. But such an approach makes the album privy to their peer group, who have done the same. That is the case here. It’s not a good album, and they have talent, I would just stretch out some more.