The successor to their well-received EP, Přežít! in 2013, Sixth Dimension unleash another mighty slab of attention provoking thrash metal this month, in the fierce shape of Trauma. Building upon the irritable ferocity and raw sound of the Czech Republic quintet’s last proposal, their new EP shows another step forward in the substance and maturity of the Most/Teplice based band’s songwriting and sound without losing any of the bracing causticity and abrasive prowess which has already made them a keenly supported proposition at home and further afield.
Formed in 2002, Sixth Dimension soon became a potent live proposition on their local and subsequently country’s underground scene. The release of Respekt in 2006 and more so Nikdy nevíš kdy (You Never Know When) six years later awoke stronger awareness of them, though it is fair to say that Přežít! (Survive!) has been the most potent and successful nudge on broad attention to date. Now it is the turn of Trauma to poke away at more unsuspecting ears and recognition.
The EP’s opening Intro provides an industrial landscape around a thickly pulsing heartbeat. There is an autonomous air to the brief piece and a brewing of portentous pressure which finally erupts in cinematic warfare just before its dark moment feed into the jaws of the EP’s following title track. It is a swift assault of thrash bred animosity led by the scowling vocals of Paul Wieden, 
behind who the thumping beats of drummer Peter Buchner show little mercy. That intent is forcibly backed by the predatory bassline of Jan Hirsch and the senses searing riffs and individual antagonistic ferocity cast by guitarists Peter Špiroch and Filip Skoumal. A great break in the full-on attack escapes midway, the band taking their foot off the pedal in intensity but pushing down the clutch to fresh and magnetic enterprise which only continues to entice within the storm.
The track is a great proper start to the release, a song already showing the new twists of adventure colouring the band’s invention and arguably an even more grievous intent to their lyrical exploration and defiance aligned to creative hostility. Otroci Prohnilosti Systému (The Slaves Of The System´s Rotting) matches its success straight after, going for the jugular whilst guitars flame and lead ears into a web of melody rich classic metal endeavour within a death metal scented climate.
Šest Stop Pod Zem (Six Feet Under (Ground)) is no less imposing or inventive in its eventful landscape of thrash confrontation and unpredictable shifts in gait next, its unrelenting intensity matched in kind by Černá Díra (The Black Hole), an even more resourceful and adventurous protagonist with varied metallic hues colliding within its invasive prowl and increasingly suffocating tempest. Emerging along with Trauma as the favourite track on the EP, it roars with creative aggravation while inciting a fresh greed for the Sixth Dimension sound, a hunger nicely satisfied by the closing Praporučík Kotrmeletz (Proto-Priomordial Lieutenant Zomersault). Unveiling a swing which alone has body and ears gripped, the song is more like mischievous fun for band and listener than the raw hostility of its predecessors but provides a slice of riotous, senses shaking rock ‘n’ roll to enjoyably complete another highly pleasing offering from Sixth Dimension.
The Trauma EP will probably not make a major ripple across the metal world on its own but it certainly adds a pleasing beast to get teeth into if given the chance; an opportunity band and release deserves.
The Trauma EP is released March 11th; for more info go to https://www.facebook.com/sixthdimensionthrash
Pete RingMaster 11/03/2016
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