More info: www.jaugernaut.com
Verdict (Rating): Pomptastic return (85%)
Jaugernaut date back to 1980. They released two albums back in the 80's (Jaugernaut & Take Em There), but eventually split in 1986. Then in 1999 one of the band members, Jim Johnston (who had joined in 1982), was contacted via email by someone interested in finding out if he was the Jim Johnston who had been a member of Jaugernaut. Jim discovered that was still interest in the band's albums. Jim re-released the second album with a few bonus tracks from his own recordings. Jim was then interested in getting the band back together to release a third Jaugernaut album, but his former band mates didn't share his enthusiasm.
So we have Jaugernaut (a.d.) which is effectively a Jim Johnston solo record, albeit one that continues the legacy from the first phase of the band. Jim's original idea was to release a 90 minute double album, but in the end he has split the release over two albums. Contra-Mantra is the first part of that double album.
Right at the start of "Anthem" there are some modern drum/synth soundx which trick the listener into thinking that this album is coming from somewhere completely different when all of a sudden the 80's AOR style synths swirl into action. This track is a mixture of Rush, Saga and Harlan Cage with possibly some neo-classical progressive rock in there as well. The electronic sounds again 'blip' an introduction to "The Damage Is Done" which has an AOR-Prog feel (Rush meets 90125-era Yes). "Better Living Thru Anarchy" continues the theme.
The centre piece and central track of the album is "The Hard Way" which weaves it's way around a Saga meets Styx backbone. The album's Pomp feel then gets put aside for the straight ahead (Foreigner/Aerosmith) bluesy rock of "Vanity" and the rockin' "A Different World". "All I See Is Gray" closes the album with a power ballad that reminded me of Brad Love.
I'm a sucker for anything to do with 80's music and Contra-Mantra is no exception. The surprising element I found about this album was the fact that despite the retro nature of the actual music it came across as feeling fresh. I haven't heard the first two albums, but I'm guessing that this one continues the series in fine fashion and now we've got the second half of that double album to look forward to.
