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Drama Of The Ages Review
07/13/2005 7:54 AM, AMG
When a genre of music is continuing to change and evolve, there will likely be some artists who stubbornly refuse to change with the times--artists who prefer an older style and faithfully recreate it. We've seen that in jazz with all the Wynton Marsalis-inspired Young Lions who rehash the hard bop and post-bop sounds of the ‘50s and ‘60s; we've seen it with all the punk revival bands that were formed in the ‘90s or 2000s but reject emo in favor of late ‘70s/early ‘80s-style punk. And we've seen it with the numerous power metal revival bands that came along in a post-Nevermind world but are a stylistic throwback to the glory days of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Savatage and Queensr˙che. The power metal revival movement of the ‘90s and 2000s has been a largely European phenomenon, but there are also some noteworthy power metal revival acts in the United States--and one of them is Jacob's Dream, whose Drama of the Ages is a 2005 release with a very ‘70s/‘80s outlook. This 70-minute CD is totally oblivious to post-‘80s, post-Nevermind developments in metal; there isn't a trace of Slipknot, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Powerman 5000 or Nothingface to be found on Drama of the Ages. Instead, hard-driving yet melodic offerings such as "Forever Winter" and "Keeper of the Crown" turn to old-school headbangers like Priest, Queensr˙che, Maiden and Ronnie James Dio for inspiration--and like the power metallers who have inspired them, Jacob's Dream realizes that being aggressive and being highly musical and intricate are not mutually exclusive. Drama of the Ages doesn't pretend to be the least bit groundbreaking, but it's a likable and solid (if highly derivative) example of what the U.S. has to offer in the power metal revival department. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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