Jacobs Dream is one of those bands I’ve been advised to check out many a time but unfortunately I’ve never had to pleasure of actually listening to any of their albums. Therefore I was filled with great anticipation when I noticed this release on the list of upcoming Metal Blade albums. Without any frame of reference apart from word of mouth I sat down and had a very thorough listen to this power metal quintet from Ohio.

And what I heard was not quite what I expected but just like a good wine, this album gets better with age. It takes time to appreciate the subtleties of Jacobs Dream’s power metal. With each spin of the disc you will be drawn deeper and deeper into the music. This is not the standard straightforward power metal that dominates the current metal scene but something different altogether. While the band clearly harkens back to the days of old with a very sober old school production Jacobs Dream doesn’t simply recycle what already has been done before. On the contrary, these guys successfully mix classical influences as well as melodic death metal and thrash metal influences into their old school melodic power metal.

Jacobs Dream sounds very refreshing while still retaining that old school underground sound. It sounds familiar yet different, powerful yet melodic, refreshing yet authentic.

While the self titled opener is more straightforward melodic power metal with a catchy chorus, “Third Way” for instance slaps you silly with its heavy riffs and aggressive vocals. This album is so diverse that I fear it’s too complicated for the average listener. Unfortunately, simplicity equals success in this twisted world of contradictions. Fast pleasure and simple satisfaction walk hand in hand where the masses are concerned. Subtleties remain hidden, never to be discovered; discarded at face value – too complicated for the short span of interest of this fast society.

Kudos to Metal Blade for having a band like Jacobs Dream on their roster; this is not the commercial milk cow that catches the eye of the big labels out there. Far from it to be honest. “Drama Of The Ages” is metal with passion. No quick fixes, no fast pleasure, no simple satisfaction. This is the stuff that stays in your CD-player for a long time because it simply doesn’t burn you out in a couple of spins. If you are into melodic power metal and you like your music diverse then “Drama Of The Ages” is the album for you. Let Jacobs Dream take you on a metal ride back in time; dream away and appreciate the great things the US power metal underground still has to offer.