Pt. 3: Visions Beyond

I stumbled on this band back in 2024, when Part 2 showed up as what I figured was just more Spotify algorithm spew. Instead, it became one of my most-played records of the year and an instant work soundtrack. I even wrote at the time:

This one really took me by surprise. First off, it came from a Spotify recommendation, which almost never holds up. Then, there’s the fact that I’m typically bored to tears by instrumental metal. But if you know me, you know Chris Poland’s Return to Metalopolis cracked my cold heart just enough to leave an opening for the occasional lone shredder to sneak in. Enter Ross Learn of Tyrannosaurus Dimension. The guy knows how to write gnarly riffs and stitch them together in ways that are consistently badass and never dull. Bring on part 3! I’m hooked.

And here we are: Pt. 3: Visions Beyond proves that wasn’t a fluke. ‘Rogue Apprentice’ picks up right where Pt 2 left off, full of riffs that stick in your head, broken up with atmospheric interludes that build a satisfying amount of tension. Again, I’m reminded of Metalopolis, not because Ross is a Chris Poland clone, but because he’s got the same rare knack for making an instrumental track feel like a journey you want to go on.

‘Glacier Thrower’ is heavy enough to feel like it’s caving in but still has melody to spare. ‘Gatekeeper’ is a push-pull between a riff that wants to stomp you into the ground and a cleaner, melodic counterpoint. The epic ‘Temporal Horizon/Defossilized’ sprawls for nine minutes without losing momentum, and the latter half has some gnarly bass work that adds texture and dynamics to an album that might otherwise risk being too guitar-centered. Then there’s ‘Ice Caves II,’ a curveball closer that leans on digitized synths straight out of a videogame soundtrack. Instead of breaking the mood, it works as a left-field way to sign off.

There isn’t a weak song here. What I like most about Ross’ writing is that he refuses the predictable start-soft/build-to-crescendo structure of so much instrumental metal. Every track shifts in ways that surprise you, balancing melody, atmosphere, and heaviness without falling into formula. It’s the same quality that makes Animals as Leaders stand out, not in style, but in the way they keep you invested even without a vocalist.

If I could change anything, I’d like to hear Ross go for the jugular once or twice with a straight shredder or thrash fest. He’s so good at the push-pull of heaviness and atmosphere that it risks blending together at times. Fortunately, the man knows when to leave the stage. At just over 35 minutes, the album doesn't overstay its welcome, and ‘Ice Caves II’ adds enough stylistic variance to make you want to hit play again when it's all over.

Instrumental metal is usually an uphill climb for me, but Tyrannosaurus Dimension has cracked the code. By the end of Pt. 3, it’s clear Ross has crafted an instrumental record that earns a place alongside the best of 2025.