Diorama - Cubed

Diorama is back with their new album 'Cubed' after the great single release 'Child of Entertainment'. The album also starts up with that song and with that, a great start of it all, before you realize that Diorama is pushing harder on the guitars more than ever.

I'm going to start with getting the guitar issue out of the way by admitting I have some problems with it. Doesn't matter how hard I try to keep an opened mind, I can't help myself thinking that the guitars feels very forced, like Diorama really wanted them in there and tried to find a place for them. This is especially noticeable in the second track "Acid Trip". A common thought along the album is also "This is good, but would be so much better and more welded together without the guitars".

With that out of the way, let's start looking at what is really good with this album. Diorama is at its best with a slow tempo and filled with emotions. "Gone Gone Gone", "Refuge", "Lord of Lies" and the amazing "My Counterfeit" are great examples of this. Still, Diorama shows a wider knowledge with the more danceable track "Ignite". Other tracks like "Cubed", "Apocalypse Later" and "Record Deal" is also enjoyable and great refrains, but here we have the guitar issue simply dragging it down, if only a little bit.

'Cubed' is a strong release with Diorama trying to find new ways of their music. I'm sure they will find it, but this release have some sharp edges. Apr 16 2010