by Eric Peterson
Calgary-based Forbidden Dimension, established in 1988, has returned with another high-energy, punk-infused 70s hard rock album titled "Midnight Stew." Released on March 20, 2023, the album features rich, meaty, and bouncy tracks designed to keep listeners engaged into the wee hours of the night. The band's lineup includes Jackson Phibes on axes and howls, Virginia Dentata on thunders and scronks, and P.T. Bonham on tubs and wheezes. Recorded and mastered by Casey Lewis at Echo Base in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, during the summer and fall of 2022, the album also features contributions from Felonious Gunk, Frederic Choppin', and Cronenburg Humperdink. The eye-catching artwork is credited to Tommy Bagley.
What Worked
Leaning more towards the British New Wave of Heavy Metal than the Garage Punk side of their core sound, this blues-inflected rocker will get your head bobbing and your feet tapping. The shout-along "Hag Fight," the country-esque "Love is a Hideous Thing" (with killer backing vocals), and the intro of "Mannix in a Graveyard" all comfortably occupy the thirty-two minutes of rock this album delivers. The energy and drive keep the tunes moving so they don't overstay their welcome.
What Didn't Work
The pulpy lyrics and imagery might be too gimmicky for some listeners, but to my ears Midnight Stew by Forbidden Dimension is easily a worthy album.
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