EXPERIMENTS IN MASS APPEAL

Read the enthusiasm on the reviews, I was expecting more, and in my opinion this one is a weaker prog album than the excellent Milliontown (despite its lousy vocals). I have waited several spins to see if Experiments... was a grower, like it happens with many great records found here in PA. Instead, every listening downgrade it a little bit. The biggest flaw, for me, is the very poor mixing/production, that makes the listening an irritating experience in some songs (Experiments, Pocket Sun, Welcome to Nowehere,...): the reason is the abrupt and violent loud parts that soar from sections where music is played low and slow. Especially I think that drums are overwhelming, with a boom-clash-crash effect that I tried to reduce frantically acting on the equalizer's knobs...The good things are songs like Experiments... and Dear Dead Days and the gentle, melodic parts interspersed on the album, and that are a trademark of the group. The other disappointment, beyond the sound, is the lack of a true, long epic. Final, I have doubts if this album should be considered prog or instead a modern rock act. I would have given 2,5 stars, rounding up to 3...encouraging Frost* for something better in the future!