| Musical Style: Power Metal | Produced By: Jacobs Dream |
| Record Label: Metal Blade / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2005 / 2025 | Artist Website: Jacobs Dream |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 70:55 |
Metal Blade Records May of 2005 third Jacobs Dream album Drama Of The Ages may appeal to classic US power metal connoisseurs who want deep and lower register vocals but don’t mind sacrificing production refinement. The Columbus, Ohio based act got its start in 2000 with its self-titled debut prior to following up a year later with sophomore effort Theater Of War (both also Metal Blade), each of which feature the contrastingly high pitched and soaring vocals of David Taylor. With his Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche) influenced style, Taylor ranks among my favorite vocalist of the form, so one can understand my disappointment with his decision to depart Jacobs Dream.
Also understandable is my initial doubt I had in regards to his replacement Chaz Bond (Biogenesis) as it pertains to his ability to fit in a power metal band. Yet, despite a vocal form that could not differ more from that of Taylor, Bond - who transitions between a clean but bass heavy style akin to Jimmy P. Brown II (Deliverance) and Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) and thrash like aggression bordering on the extreme - won me over with his well-rounded abilities. Perhaps it is due to Drama Of The Ages featuring some of my favorite Jacobs Dream songs, but Bond brings out the best in the groups material from imbuing a deep sense of melody that transcends the first two albums as fine as they are. Hs varied style all the same also allows Jacobs Dream to branch out and explore musical territory diverse as thrash, epic and even progressive metal.
On first listen twenty years ago, I was turned off by the muddy Drama Of The Ages production. If similar to this reviewer, musically superior albums exist in your collection that despite suffering production issues maintain a permanent place in your routine playlist- and such is the case with Drama Of The Ages. This, however, rectifies with re-mastering to the November of 2025 Retroactive Records 20th Anniversary Edition reissue to the album. Attributing to Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound), re-mastering attests that the problem with Drama Of The Ages was not necessarily production but rather mastering. The Retroactive reissue, for instance, sports a brighter and cleaner sound in which any murkiness is supplanted by firmer guitar tones, better defined drums and further polish overall. While not necessarily on same level as Theater Of War, in my opinion the best-produced Jacobs Dream album, production now represents an asset.
Said ‘deep sense of melody’ reveals on albums superlative opening title track. “Drama Of the Ages” sees Jacobs Dream firing on all cylinders: sterling minute long harmony riff driven opening, Bond’s smoothly reaching for the unfathomable low-end vocals and hooks that leverage in straightway fashion. Versatile Gary Holtzman, whom supplants Theater Of War drummer Billy Queen but got his start as part of the Jacobs Dream guitar team, imparts the constant low end founding. Lyric snippet:
Prophecies unfolding
Mysteries are told me
The audience is waiting
For the part we're playing
Waiting and praying
Father give us strength
To face the day with courage
Of equal form is the Bond penned “Spinning Leaf”, which brings an unprecedented commercial face to the group. Commercial, however, means no less heavy as the signature Jacobs Dream guitar crunch plays no less a persuasive role, albeit aligning with opening piano and keyboards ahead of taking a subjugating stance the remaining span. The unyielding melody allows an accessible groundwork pointing to potential radio play.
Later in the track listing is my all time favorite from Jacobs Dream, “Deceiver Of The Nations”. It touches upon a Warlord like epic metal flair its six and half minutes, expansive through its intricately woven instrumental first minute but equally forbidding for dour verse sections in which Bond imbues a dramatic extreme flair to his delivery. Keyboards blandish the apocalyptic ‘before the dawn of time, you lost your place on high’ refrain. In my opinion, “Deceiver Of The Nations” is 2005 song of the year. Lyric snippet:
I'll exalt my throne above the stars of God
And I will ascend above the highest clouds
Before the dawn of time
You lost your place on high
The shining one
Filled with pride
Defeated, falling, as lighting from the sky
I attribute equal value to follow up piece “Cutting Words”. It reveals a complex progressive basis, opening to a catchy guitar riff instrumental run only to transition to the at times calm and reserved and others ill at ease verse sections in which guitar ranges from the thrash-like to staunchly unyielding. Refrain is also of an epic (and resoundingly catchy) nature in emanating a borderline Maiden like flair. Guitar team of founding John Berry and newcomer Jon Noble (replacing the departed Derek Eddleblute from Theater Of War) proves itself of no small ability.
Drama Of The Ages closes to as fine a three-song run you will find. “Victory” gets things going as a straightforward but catchy five minutes ranging from the doom-like - impetus to start trends the trudging – to expeditious power metal, a walloping double kick drums leads the way alongside a needlelike riff foundation. The bounteous melody to burst forth contrasts with the occasional downtrodden death like growl. Lyric snippet:
Lift your hands
Receive from on high
The spirit of life
Speak His name
Shout for the power and feel the fire
Don't live your life t look back and regret
What could've been if you had tried
“At The Gates” is another favorite. Yes, the first minute made up of a pitched battle with clashing swords and war horns is cheesy, but the remaining five and half is pure gold. Song upholds the power metal anthem lacings - keyed up double bass continues to hold true - but with added epic metal moments as dramatic harmonies and sovereign melody define the crowning scene. The bludgeoning but equally firsthand refrain revisits the doom-like- again, quite gripping and drawing in with repeat play.
Closing instrumental “Pachelbel’s Canon In D” was a hidden bonus track on the Metal Blade release. It finds the group stretching musicianship wise, starting to classical bass prior to moving ahead to the enticing melodies and engrossing riffs that smoothly emanate the remaining distance. Several fusion-like guitar runs again find Berry and Noble at the top of their respective games.
Albums remaining six songs might not be on similar level as the previously noted seven but are still VERY good. I take to “Stand Or Fall”, a decelerated dark and moody five minutes interwoven with metal ballad aesthetics to see an imperial melody stand alongside reach for the unfathomable vocals. I almost sense a Gothic resonance. Lyric snippet:
September sun was rising
Morning shadows crawled
Etched upon our minds that day
When we watched the towers fall
When the dust had settled
We joined our shaking hands
On bended knee with broken hearts
We swore never again
Likewise, I think highly of “Forever Winter”, with its opening three and half minutes instrumentally driven to impermeable rhythms over a foundation of intractable bass. Subsequent two and half minutes temper in taking a melodic role as accenting keyboards lead the way through coercing verse sections and equally astute refrain. Impression is two distinct songs glued back to back.
“Drowning Man” separates with its melancholic aligning of acoustic and classic metal guitars to emanate of a churning doom influenced predicating. Gist is the somber and pensive, emanating extreme like emotion from the adversarial sentiments but also an amicable touch as another bounteous melody holds sway. This one proves there is more to Jacobs Dream than power metal. Lyric snippet:
In a pouring rain the searching begins
Somewhere in your heart is a drowning man
Running wild crawling in sin
You cling to the blade as the bleeding begins
At the end of yourself is where this road leads
The black inner sea that's raging within
A cry in the dark as the blade's sinking in
This way isn't the way it was meant to be
Of the remaining three cuts “Keeper Of The Crown” is keyed up to hard charging momentum but occasionally lightens to delicate keyboards, while “Third Way” starts slowly portent only to pick up pace as intense riffing and vibrant vocal melodies collide. “Tempest” combines aspects of power metal, referencing the double kick drum, and thrash, pinpointing periodic appearance of extreme vocals.
Drama Of The Ages highlights some of Jacobs Dream’s finest musical moments pointing to choice tracks “Spinning Leaf”, “Deceiver Of The Nations”, “Cutting Words”, “Victory” and others. Selection of Chaz Bond as new front man works to perfection in light of his deep but expansive range and penchant for occasional lower register growls. Any previous production misgivings end up rectified by the much-needed polish from the Retroactive re-mastering. Lone complaint is that at 13 songs and 70 minutes album is a bit long-winded and potentially deserves cut by a song or two. That said when a band owns such a high volume of quality material it cannot be faulted for putting its best foot forward either. Fans of Jacobs Dream and power metal in its varying forms would do themselves a favor by making the Retroactive reissue a priority purchase.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Drama Of The Ages" (4:46), "Keeper Of The Crown" (4:58), "Spinning Leaf" (4:52), "Stand Or Fall" (5:09), "Tempest" (5:13), "Third Way" (4:44), "Forever Winter" (6:11), "Drowning Man" (4:59), "Deceiver Of The Nations" (6:32), "Cutting Words" (5:53), "Victory" (4:56), "At The Gates" (6:27), “Pachelbel’s Canon In D” (5:50)
Musicians
Chaz Bond - Lead Vocals
John Berry - Guitars & Synthesizers
Jon Noble - Guitars
James Evans - Bass
Gary Holtzman - Drums
