1.What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Found myself headbanging almost immediately, which is always a good sign in my book!
2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
Digged 'em all. 'Perpetual Child' reminded me a LOT of mid 90's Dream Theater (as in their sound around 'Awake') except with a thrashier, meaner groove amidst the glittery keyboards. The rollicking 'Sleepwalker' and nicely melodic 'Join' kick a lot of ass too -- the former of the two almost makes me think these guys were big
Living Colour fans!
3. What did you think of the later tracks?
About as intriguing as the opening numbers: love those keys in 'Because Of You'. The closing two-part epic was nice, and I love the whole nu-fusion thing they were doing with 'Spare Chicken Parts' -- reminds a bit of what
Planet X would be doing later in the 2000's.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
All these Dennis DeYoung comparisons to the singer
Josh Pincus are pretty much on the money. I have no idea what hole the band dug him out from, but he's pretty good for someone with no classical training. ^^;;
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Mostly, but the hooks are iffy every now and then. Definitely enjoyed on the whole though.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
I thought it was consistent from start to finish: began well and ended well.
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Good from what I can tell: a bit of further lyrical research during my listening experience made the songs' meanings themselves clearer. Nothing here really bites or surprises me, but they work well with the music on the whole.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Probably the thing I liked most actually: lots of great keyboard textures and guitar interplay. None of it's quite up there with Kevin Moore and Petrucci's work with Dream Theater back in the early 90's, but there's definitely something special to this sonic canvas.
9. What did you think of the production?
Understated, but not fuzzy or anything. In laymens' terms...it works.
10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
I recall skimming through some of Ice Age's material a few months ago during a hunt for great prog. metal bands/albums over the last twenty years, but didn't linger on them long enough to really let the music sink in.
11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Indubitably prog. metal!
12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Neither. I like it for what it is, but my general impression neither improved nor disproved with repeated listens.
13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
'Perpetual Child' by a pretty decent margin, followed by 'Sleepwalker'. When these guys were on the money...they're as good as the best in the genre, no doubt about it.
14. And the one you liked least?
'One Step Away'. Some bands and artists can do the ballad thing and send you straight into the stratosphere, and some just can't. These guys are in the latter camp unfortunately. It sounds like a poor man's
Blind Guardian. xD
15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was question or put "n/a")
Gave it a lot of leeway actually: with a few exceptions, most bands' debut albums are always weaker than what they end up doing later. But right out the door these guys could do songs like 'Perpetual Child' with ease, and that takes real talent and finesse to pull off.
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
I've heard bits of their sophomore record 'Liberation' already, but listening to this debut more thoroughly has given me a desire to explore that record too now.
17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
Typical hero's journey stuff with touches here and there of environmentalism and the occasional reference to corporate nepotism (A'LA Queensryche). Although these guys aren't anywhere close to the ballpark of their tier 1 prog. metal peers in the lyrical department, I appreciate the imagery.
18. Did the album end well?
Baddah boom baddah bing!
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
More consistency in the songwriting department would have been good. Might not have been a bad idea to go hire a REALLY good engineer either.
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Probably more hit and miss than I would have liked, but it IS a debut and a fairly accomplished one at that. I'll give
Ice Age an A for effort and a solid B for execution.
Overall Album Rating: 7.5 out of 10.