MIND - DREAM SERPENTby Daniel Antherstein
2010 has been a great year for music. We've had great introductions from artist like Knox, Michelle Green and Ugenia not to mention great releases from established bands like Infinite and Moronic Changeling. So when I discovered that I was one of the critics chosen to review the advance copy of Mind's Dream Serpent I was quite thrilled. Now, time to get this show on the road.
Mind is a four piece band headed by lyrical afro mastermind Jason Smith backed by Bassist Harry Thornton, Guitarist Aaron Del Petro and Drummer Robert Edwards. The four have released successful a album in Shattered Fairytale. Now they're back with the highly anticipated Dream Serpent. I put the album in as quick as I could.
The album begins with a mostly instrumental track "The Eastern Winds". It's only a minute long and features Jason's vocals that seem to be from a distant and no guitars nor drums are in this song. Only sounds taken from normal day machines. I liked it, gave a feeling of atmosphere to the album. The track that follows is "Amphigory Abyss" it uses technical modifications with the guitar which takes away from Del Petro's usual clean sound. The samples from old radio recordings are pretty cool. I think they felt at home in the song and the drumming is good. Smith's vocals are awesome as well.
Mind returns to thrash metal with "An Arrogant Silence" which relies on parts from different music genres. The result is a choppy stew of mixed sounds. It's the first disappointment of the album and even Jason Smith's albums can't help the mixed instruments. Lead off single "Summer's Edge" follows as the fourth track and ever since the single was released I knew it was a gem of a song. Towards the middle Jason Smith shouts and Del Petro begins a solo that Smith finishes off and once I heard that I knew that this song could not get any better. It's a wonderful track and probably one of the Top Ten tracks of 2010(alongside Red Symphony and The Infinity Delusion).
"Requiem of the Blackened Wings" takes a page from the best of progressive metal and mixes it with a pianist delight. The song builds up to the that of a Progressive Hit. I loved this song and hopefully the album continues to get better. Taking pages from other successful bands, sixth track "The Night's Shore" attempts to blend in with the current trend of Electro-Rock. I don't think Mind is at home as an Electro-Rock band. I liked them better when it's four guys rocking out, the keyboards give them a mechanical feeling that hurts the band.
"Crystal Urn" is a Speed Metal track with Power Metal influences. The piano is drowned out by the quick chords of the song and there were a couple of face melters here that brought me back to my mid-90's with Anthraxx. This album is filled with hits and make no mistake, this is one of 'em. "Monolith" is a track that holds your hand throughout it. It's probably the best track for an introductory fan to Mind or any potential progressive metal fan(OOC: The description itself reminded me of Skwisgaar of Dethklok's AIR GUITAR solo of the episode - "Dethrecord).
Light vocals touch upon "Engulfing Grace in Blood & Fire" while background noises explode in this interlude. The electric guitar is lost in exchange for an Acoustic one which is a good replacement. The song seamlessly changes into the tenth track and the beginning of the "Creation Spectrum Trilogy", "White". "White" reminds me of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" truth be told because it has a slow acoustic build up with Smith guiding you through before it explodes into an Electric Guitar bonanza. It slows down towards the end and switches right into "Grey". The Guitar for "Grey" isn't at the forefront and reminds with a plethora of background noises as hushed whispers and thin electronic keystrokes replace it. It's a slow song which switches to the finale of the trilogy "Black". I can only assume that the first two were build up for the inevitable crash down, this crash down takes the form of "Black". It turns into what I believe typical black metal fare. Nothing new here and it's a good song, just unremarkable.
The album then jerks me around with a total 180 for the track "Where The Sun Sets". A quiet beginning betrays my thoughts of a slow song as it explodes into something reminiscent of an 80's Power Ballad. I quite liked it. The album then ends with the final track "Dream Serpent". Its tribal beats mixed with obscure instruments that you just can't quite put your finger on make this an experimental masterpiece. I loved this song and I think it's gonna be a Sleeper hit. The usual Mind audience might be a little disheartened by the track but it marks the Quartet's ambition to move forward.
TRACKS TO SPIN -
Dream Serpent - Fun Experimental Love.
White - Even though it's the starter for the "Creation Spectrum Trilogy", it reminds me too much of Bohemian Rhapsody to ignore.
Crystal Urn - The Power Metal lyrics had me nodding my head.
Where The Sun Sets - Power Ballad Mind had me singing along.
SUMMARY: Mind's newest album is a raging success and so far, the best album I've heard this year. It strings consistent hits and the only faults is that they tried to cross a couple of new territories and a couple of them weren't for Mind. This album was an experiment and I gotta say, it was a good one.
9.5/10
