Musical Style: Power Metal	Produced By: Rick May
Record Label: Metal Blade / Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2000 / 2024	Artist Website: Jacobs Dream
Tracks: 12	Rating: 85%
Running Time: 47:53

Inspired by power/progressive metal bands like Queensryche, Fates Warning and Sacred Warrior, Jacobs Dream debuted in 1997 with an eponymously entitled seven-song demo sporting the typical power/progressive metal arrangements: high-end lead vocals, technically intricate songwriting, double bass drumming and subtle keyboard arrangements.  Based out of Columbus, Ohio and forming in 1994 under the Iron Angel moniker, the group spent the subsequent three years fine-tuning its sound ahead of changing its name to Jacobs Dream due to another band sporting the Iron Angel label.  Jacobs Dream gained initial fame when said demo sold in excess of 3000 copies, with the upshot an underground label bidding war in which Metal Blade Records came out on top.  Two highly regarded full length albums followed over a two-year span: Jacobs Dream (2000) and Theater Of War (2001).

I always felt Jacobs Dream was a musically superior work held back by production that while not bad would benefit from a touch of polish.  Any production misgivings, however, are rectified by the re-mastering to the summer of 2024 Retroactive Records re-issue to Jacobs Dream.  Added improvement comes in the form of enhanced packaging - courtesy of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics - featuring a multi-page mini booklet with lyrics and liner notes in an easier to read front (compared to the Metal Blade release).    

When placed alongside, In find the Retroactive re-mastering (noting the work of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) an upgrade in terms of adding a dose of refinement allowing all instrumentation to stand out better in the mix.  Gist is a more prodigious rhythm guitar sound (crisper, cleaner and delivering added edges of bite) and sturdier low end (drums deliver further punch and pick).  It is almost as if listening to a completely different album.

Opener “Kinescope” is one of several cuts allowing front man David Taylor to shine with his soaring style.  With distant keyboards in the backend, verse sections find him reaching down low (even if slightly) to unveil a swarthy side to his delivery, while regal refrain allows him to stretch and cut loose in high-end fashion.  Song draws upon similar emotional vestiges that made Sacred Warrior’s Rebellion such a special release.  Lyric snippet:

We all deceive ourselves sometimes
Refusing to look at the darkness inside
Examine your soul and you will see
That you're not the one
That you wanted to be
There's a world here to show you
But so little time to share
The Kinescope is waiting
And I've saved a seat for you

Quality carries over to “Funambulism”.  Song elevates tempo to near speed-based levels - Rick May’s double bass separates accordingly - as energy ups exponentially and guitar harmonies of James Evans and John Berry set the intricately detailed tone.  Consider the tightly woven (and quite intense!) dual leads to carry the instrumental moments in this regard.  Lyric snippet:

Straying from a vision while walking through the shadows
Searching for answers making dreams for myself
Time was of the essence and I was quickly fading
But a voice it kept calling, it kept leading me on
Don't you know you've lost your way
Don't let your vision fade away - No!

Walking on a tightrope in the valley of decision
There's so many choices in the chasm below
Behind me is the past and before is the future

“Scape Goat” represents this reviewers choice but.  It slows tempo and ups heaviness accordingly, rhythm guitar powers to the front of the mix, but also delivers an ominous feel, noting the distorted (borderline ethereal) backing vocals.  Putting things over the top is the commanding refrain accenting ample doses of deeply root but melodic explosiveness.

Albums shortest piece at three-minutes is “Mad House of Cain”, a creepy interlude type piece with an unearthly feel to see lightly woven guitars and downcast vocals coalesce.  It makes a logical segue to ballad “Tale Of Fears”, which buoyantly floats over an atmospheric joining of wondrous harmonies and tempered guitars to speak of the introspective.  Guitars, however, expand to make a more impactful statement over songs final half.  Lyric snippet:

Ancient lore and scripture tells of such things that this may be
The one who filled the heart of Cain
And brought the world calamity
The serpents of the garden, the bright and shining one
The rioter and crucifier of the one begotten Son

Better Light your lamp
Better keep the Fire high
For something evil walks this night
It walks this night!

“Crusade” is another classic.  Song maneuvers its span at an elevated tempo, with keyed up riffs and accelerated rhythm section leading the way through an emotional but high melody driven landscape.  Force ups exponentially for another technical (almost thrash based) instrumental section upheld by added stunning dual harmonies from Berry and Holtzman.

Jacobs Dream is renowned for its penchant for instrumental tracks and such is the case with “Black Watch”.  It proves aptly entitled in resonating of the swarthy, with darker undertones found in the front to back dire riffs and perilous joining of bass and rugged double kick drum.  Yet, a contrasting lighter aspect reveals in the fusion filled soloing courtesy of Magnitude 9 shredder Rob Johnson. 

Other cuts include “Never Surrender”, an emotional bleeder to see Taylor stretch and reveal the moving side to his delivery and prove in the process why he was one of the leading front men during the turn of the century power metal scene.  Song otherwise revels in the impassioned, found in the engrossing at once hooks and riffs not to mention a refrain to command with its searing affection.  Lyric snippet:

Dawn break another day through a veil of sleepless night
A heavy heart of pondering in the shadows of my plight
It was fifteen years ago that a presence came to me
It was a call to live in song leading to adversity
But my heart still believes

I'll never surrender, I won't lose my soul
Hold onto the dream, I'll never let go

Of equal note is “The Gathering”.  What we have is a Maiden influenced stomper, bordering on speed metal with its storm like outbursts but also equally animated from in my opinion is albums strongest draw you in at once melody (I challenge you to keep the ‘storm clouds gather as the winds are brewing’ refrain out of our head!).  Lone drawback, however, is that the song is a bit short at just three and half minutes- it brings a decided progressiveness that speaks of a song twice its length.  At the very least, the band could have rounded things out by expanding upon the all too brief instrumental moments.  Lyric snippet:

I feel the horizon, it's pulling my soul
Onto tomorrow and nobody knows
Destiny called and I answered to her

Oh Ancient One show me the way
The heavens are calling, an empire is falling
Sacred fires are burning, desperate souls are turning

Also quite good but a notch below the preceding eight (in my opinion) is “Love & Sorrow”.  I identify with it as melodic power metal, not quite heavy as some (albeit still delivering the Jacobs Dream forthright blow), but rather steeped in the accessible to see vocals soar and heightened impetus prevails (I detect a slight hint of the eighties).  This one reveals a lighter side to Jacobs Dream.

Likewise, final two cuts “The Bleeding Tree” and “Violent Truth” are solid, but I do not rank with albums best.  Former reveals a light progressiveness in transitioning between airy, keyboard driven moments and others in which a straight on metal demeanor plays a lead role.  Latter is shorter at three minutes but also more elevated with a speed-based form in speaking of the heavier with an aggressive traditional metal bent.  Lyric snippet (“The Bleeding Tree”):

And now I'll take you to a realm yet unseen
Deep in the forest to a crimson tree
This is the place where a Lion died
His sacred pact with humanity
This blood has a power to heal your wounds
To break the spell of the curses chains
Come bathe in the Lion's blood
The bleeding tree

Jacobs Dream equates to a very fine classic US power metal debut album.  No, Jacobs Dream might not be breaking any new ground here but executes at a high level all the same in delivering the quality components required of the genre.  Upshot is twelve strong cuts - keeping in mind I find some better than others - with not a skip button among the lot.  Band performance is at a top level, with vocalist David Taylor among my power metal favorites and John Berry and Gary Holtzman providing solid support on guitar.  Give credit to Retroactive Records for making Jacobs Dream available again in such a high quality re-mastered and re-packaged format.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Kinescope” (3:34), “Funambulism” (4:33), “Scape Goat” (5:06), “Mad House Of Cain” (3:01), “Tale Of Fears” (4:29), “Crusade” (4:10), “Black Watch” (3:55), “Love & Sorrow” (4:15), “The Gathering” (3:24), “Never Surrender” (4:13), “The Bleeding Tree” (3:49), “Violet Truth” (3:19)

Musicians
David Taylor - Lead Vocals
John Berry - Guitars and Synthesizers
Gary Holtzman - Guitars
James Evans - Bass
Rick May - Drums