Aztec Jade - Frame Of Mind

The Calling
To Believe
Mad Not Crazy
Desperate Land
Nosferatu
Atlantis
Regatta Fugue II
Stained
Gates Of Babylon
Requiem

Label: CMG
Producer: Scott MacPherson
Year: 1997

Total Playing Time: 42:25 m:s

When bass player, Bryan Kowalski, first got in contact ask me to link to the bands web site, he described AJ's music as like "Dream Theater/Fates Warning, but more "Hooky"". Well, that's a description that I can't improve upon.

I'm a big fan of Dream Theater, but, for the most part, I've been less than impressed by the legions of progressive metal copycats that the band seem to have spawned. However, Aztec Jade has managed to add their own twist to the formula. With an average song time of 4:20, and not extending beyond 5:12, the band expressive themselves more succinctly than just about any other progressive metal band I can think of. As a result of this relative brevity, the band keep the songs focused and they do sound "more hooky".

Musically, Dream Theater are the main reference point, but with more keyboards/synths than DT have been using of late. The singer has a more obviously progressive style voice than James LaBrie.

The band sticks to a conventional progressive/DT formula throughout the album. Although there are the expected tempo changes etc, most of the songs fit into the mid to up-tempo category. There is a tendency for the songs to all sound 'samey' after a while. Of the opening 4 songs, To Believe works best. Noseratu slows the pace slightly and the slight variation on the formula is welcome. I'd describe both Atlantis and Regetta Fugue II as having a Pomp/military feel to them and could be described as DT meets Asia. Stained is back to the formula established on the opening songs, this one is lift by a better than average chorus. Just in case you were wondering, Gates Of Babylon isn't a cover of the Rainbow song. Requiem finishes matters off well as it is one of the more memorable songs.

Aztec Jade have created an accessible progressive metal album and have avoided the trap of becoming yet another 'DT tribute band'.

Rating: 7