Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

4TH DIMENSION was founded in 2005 by singer Andrea Bicego and keyboard player Talete Fusaro. Since the beginning the band focused on a specific style, symphonic power metal, following the steps of metal gods such as Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Rhapsody of Fire & more. During the first year the current line-up was built, comprising also drummer Massimiliano Forte, guitarist Michele Segafredo and bass player Stefano Pinaroli. In early 2011 4TH DIMENSION signed for italian label 4CRASH & BURN RECORDS and the band’s debut album, “THE WHITE PATH TO REBIRTH”, was released on 25th, March.

But let’s hear what Andrea Bicego told me the other day…

Hi Andrea, I’m Tarja, welcome to Metal Shock!

Hi Tarja, thanks a lot for your interest in our music and obviously for this opportunity! You’re very kind!

Andrea, 4th Dimension was formed in 2005 by you and your keyboardist Talete. Tell me about those first years, and what were the initial kick to form the band?

Well, it all began when I met Talete back in 2005. He was playing keyboard in his former rock band and everyone could see his talent from a thousand miles. When we first made acquaintance it was a pleasure to find out we had common interests in music and so the idea was born to join forces and to found a new band. Those first days were a bit naïve, we had logistic problems, it wasn’t easy for us to rehearse and it wasn’t clear if we would be able to set things right and begin the journey, so to say… it wasn’t until 2008 that the band was united and  the days were ripe to start songwriting, the first of which was THE SUN IN MY LIFE…

So, to start, why don’t you present us your band members and their roles… and if you like, describe each of you with some words…

Sure, first of all, Talete Fusaro: he’s the keyboard player of the band and the main songwriter together with me. He’s talented in playing piano and keys and as much in composing. In a word, he’s pure talent. Michele Segafredo is our guitarist: though not being an hyper technical guitarist, he’s gifted with a rare taste for melody. I love his solos deeply and his style resembles that of guitarists like Axel Rudi Pell or other axes from the eighties.
Then we have Massimiliano Forte on drums. He brings us absolute security while playing but he’s also my right hand in the management of the band. Last but not least, Stefano Pinaroli, bassist and the youngest member of the band, the last to join us a few years ago. He’s in love with his instrument and in constant research for improvement.

Describe me your sound and influences?

Not an easy task! We listen to each and every kind of music, from metal to pop music, from classical music to folk, from rock to dance music. All of us bear a different background and the album is in itself a reflection of some of our personal tastes. So, while being faithful to the roots of melodic power metal (we could never deny pur respect towards band like Vision Divine, Labyrinth, Rhapsody of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish) you should not be surprised to listen to an easy song like “Goldeneyes”, with its folk-pop flavor, or a nearly melodic gothic track like “Everlasting” or a piano ballad like “Landscapes” which is as far removed as you can imagine from the classical metal ballad, being, as it is, deeply influenced by classical music.

Your band’s name is quite interesting, tell me about it…

The band’s name was Talete’s idea and we all thought it was a good one from the very start. I would like to point out that it has nothing to do with Stratovarius’ first album with Timo Kotipelto on vocals. In fact, for us the fourth dimension is a dimension of the spirit, an ideal of perfection we should live hoping to reach for, through our daily experiences, both bad and good ones. Music, in its own way, with its healing and soothing powers, is a significant mean to glimpse at that place removed from space and time where our soul dwells, our inner sanctum, the fourth dimension in us…

In 2008 your started to write your own songs, how is your songwriting process?

Quite simple and not quite so. Usually one member of the band comes with an idea and then the whole band works on it together. Talete writes his songs playing the piano, while I compose with the classical guitar. We also started using pc music programs to share ideas when it’s not possible to rehearse. Anyway, sometimes the ideas brought to the band are quite complete and only need editing and full arrangement, sometimes we work hard on them before coming to a satisfying result.  What I can say with certainty is that our second album will be even more a team work, with more band members involved in the songwriting process.

Your first single in 2009, “The Sun In My Life” appeared on a compilation “Total Invasion vol.3” which was distributed in Italy and in Germany. Did it bring you more visibility and benefits?

“The Sun in My Life” was our very first song and we did not really know what to expect from it. The compilation you speak about, featuring a good demo version of our song was a good mean to reach for a large amount of metal fans and start spreading the name of our band. That was the main scope of the cd and I’m still surprised when guys from abroad tell me they got to know us right through it.

In 2009 you started to work with Alessio Lucatti, the keyboard player of Vision Divine. Tell me about this collaboration.

I consider this meeting the turning point of our little history. In 2009 Alessio listened to the demo versions of  “The Sun in My Life”, “Sworn to the Flame” and “Goldeneyes” and simply asked us if we might be interested in a collaboration. Being the Vision Divine fans we could not possibly reject that offer and therefore, after finishing the songwriting, he worked hard with us to improve the quality of the songs. After a brief pre-production he engineered, edited and mixed the album and finally got us the chance to tour Europe with Sonata Arctica & Labyrinth.
We are definitely going to work with him again in the future. Our partnership goes beyond professional relationship …it’s a true friendship.

Your debut album “THE WHITE PATH TO REBIRTH”, was released this year, on March. Tell me about the songs, and themes…

In a way, THE WHITE PATH TO REBIRTH is a concept album, and it is so in the literal meaning. All songs refer to a common concept, though nearly every and each of them are thoroughly independent from one another. The common idea is well represented by the image of the white path…. A long way, its ending unknown, upon which every human being does during his life. Through days of joy and days of sadness, through sunshine and rain, through life and death, light and shades, we walk upon the road of life, but sometimes negative experiences weigh far more upon us than the good ones and take us down. In those moments one should take hold on the good memories, the good things in life, seek the inner energy that flows from within and start his journey back to the light. Therefore the path is white, luminous as the light. But it’s also a path bathed in purity, because rebirth sometimes comes also from shedding our old skin, humbly realizing the wrongness of our past, of misconceptions, deeds, everything to gain a white soul back. Of course everything comes at a cost but the reward is far greater in the end.

Therefore the album is a collection of personal experiences, most of which deal with a lost love (“The Sun in My Life” and “Consigned to the Wind”, death & loss (“Goldeneyes”), the melancholy that comes from the unstoppable passing of time (“Everlasting”) mixed together with more visionary lyrics (“Labyrinth of Glass”, “A New Dimension”, “Winter’s Gone”) that go deep into the matter of redemption through realization of sin and sacrifice and further themes dealing with ecology (“Angel’s Call”, “Landscapes”) and the sense of communion with mankind (“Sworn to the Flame”). But all the lyrics enter, in peculiar ways, the main central theme expressed by the album title.

The album also features FABIO LIONE, the singer of Rhapsody of Fire, as a special guest. How was it to work with him?

Its was amazing. Fabio is also the singer of Vision Divine and therefore a band mate of our producer Alessio Lucatti, so it wasn’t hard to have him duet with me in a song. I remember with pleasure the day, last summer, when he came to the studio to sing “A New Dimension”. He was amazing but at the same time humble and perceptive. He tried to do all he could to stay as close as possible to what we thought the song should be. He’s one of the best metal singers in the world and we were honored to work with him. He makes everything appear easy, even when dealing with difficult lines. Simply astounding.

What have been the reaction of your audience?

Well, the album has been well received so far. Songs like “A New Dimension” or “Goldeneyes” are among the favorite of our fans but on the whole we were warmly received. Of course there have also been criticism but it’s ok for us. It’s quite obvious people have their own way of thinking, their own ideas concerning music. So there’s absolutely no problem. What matters most to me is to see there are guys and girls from everywhere who take their time to get in touch with us and share their opinions on our music. It’s a great feeling and enough proof we’re doing something good after all.

In early this year you signed with Crash & Burn Records. What have been the main changes this contract brought along?

I have to thank the label manager, Nick Savio. He is a musicians first of all, he’s got his own band, Hollow Haze, and has got a clear idea of what a label should do. He has believed in our record and he’s doing a great job to promote it. Crash & Burn is not a major, but thanks to it our record is truly available in Europe through the main mailorders (EMP, Nuclear Blast etc) and also worldwide. A part from that we are left free to develop our ideas with no pressures of any kind. And that’s fair enough!

In February 2011 you toured in Europe, as a support act, for Sonata Arctica and Labyrinth. Tell me the top moments of that tour…

Well, top moments… a page would not be enough! It’s been a great experience. I don’t know if we were ready in the beginning, but I’m pretty sure we sold our skin well and I’m happy when I think back at those days. We have good memories of all the shows we played and it was a special feeling to play in Milan in front of about 2.000 people. That was a really good show.
Apart from that, we had a great time touring in the same tour-bus with our comrades Labyrinth and we shared many good moments and many good beers together. We also learnt quite a lot and came back home with a much clearer idea about how 4th Dimension should be like.
Talking about Sonata Arctica, the top moment came after our last show in Pratteln, Switzerland. Cheers and toasts and pictures and party together! Tony and the other guys are really nice people and it was a pleasure to tour with them!

And now, you will tour this year to support your debut album?

Well, not another European tour, that’s for sure. We plan to play in Italy in the next months to promote the album but maybe we’ll try to organize some shows abroad, if the chance comes, since we have fans who long to see us again and they’d deserve that!

And what are your future plans? a new album?

You got it! A new album is our next goal! And we don’t really want to waste time! In fact, we’re working on some new ideas already! I believe it’s going to sound a bit different from the first one, not a clone to “The White Path to Rebirth”! We shall see…

And now, I let you to conclude this interview… anything you like to say to our readers?

Of course, but I’ll try to be short since I’ve talked too much already! So, guys and girls, please give a chance to our record THE WHITE PATH TO REBIRTH.  I humbly believe it’s worth your time but in the end it’s up to you to say…
Look for us on internet and if you need signed copies of the album, just write to us!!! Last but not least, a big thank you to all the people who support us in everywhere, those who met with us on tour and those who share our music! We love you and hope to see you at our shows some time!

For more information, official site: www.4thdimensionmetal.com – myspace: www.myspace.com/4thdimensionmetal – facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59731422457

Interview by Tarja Virmakari