Jacob's Dream - Theater Of War


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Metal Blade
Catalog Number: 14363
Format: CD
Total Time: 48:35:00

Heavy line-up problems have worried this power metal band from Columbus, Ohio since their self-titled debut release in 2000 and this time around Jacob's Dream try to convince us with their second album, Theater Of War, released on Metal Blade Records.

Although their first album was already hailed as a classic in the making, I tended to disagree; but with the addition of new members, I had hoped that this would breathe new air into a very promising band. Musically speaking, Jacob's Dream have clearly managed to spin their straight forward (heard before) metal into some finely crafted music. The US style guitar playing comes to the fore with plenty of moving riffs and flawless soloing. Also the rhythm section sounds tidier and a tad more flexible to create some ever so slight movements within the individual songs to keep it interesting.

Still, whenever I listen to the album, after 3 songs something doesn't seem right. And every time I try to analyse this uncomfortable feeling it ends up being the vocals. I hate to break it to the world of Jacob's Dream and their fans but David Taylor sings flat. He has a very powerful voice and can scream the head off many vocalists out there but whatever should go in-between is simply missing. Listen to the instrumental "De Machina Est Deo" and experience the exuberance and excitement the music delivers. In comparison to "Black Souls" where to music is brought down simply by the shortcoming of David's vocal range.

I hate to compromise the reputation of a very popular band based on the vocal performance but Jacob's Dream is barely scratching an average!

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Sanctuary (4:45) / Theater Of War (4:46) / Traces Of Grace (5:25) / Wisdom (5:34) / The Warning (4:21) / Sarah Williams (7:07) / De Machina Est Deo (3:42) / Black Souls (3:50) / Critical Mass (5:25)

Musicians:
John Berry - guitars and guitar synth
Derek Eddleblute - guitar
James Evans - bass
David Taylor - vocals
Billy Queen - drums

Discography:
Jacob's Dream (2000)
Theater Of War (2001)
Drama Of The Ages (2005)
Dominion Of Darkness (2008)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: December 28th 2004
Reviewer: Peter Fundeis
Score:
Artist website: www.jacobsdream.info
Hits: 3094
Language: english

  

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