FRONTIERS

In 1982 there was an economical crisis in my country (again!). By late 1982, it became difficult for some record shops to survive in my city, as they imported albums from the U.S., England, Europe, and other parts of the world. The prices of Imported L.P. s increased a lot, so three of my favourite record shops closed their doors between 1982 and 1983.

By mid 1983, I listened several times to the song "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" in some FM Radio stations in my city. I liked the song a lot, but I only could find a few Import copies from this "Frontiers" album, at very expensive prices then, due to that economical crisis. It was until late 1983 that I found copies of this L.P. (less expensive than the imported copies) made in my country that I finally listened to this album.

This album is more "dark" in content and sound than their "Escape" album. I think that "Escape" is more balanced in musical moods than this album. It is also a very good album but maybe not as good as "Escape". Some of the lyrics talk about broken love relationships ("Separate Ways", "Send Her my Love", "After the Fall"), distant love relationships due to touring ("Faithfully"). The Side Two of the old L.P included songs with more Heavy sounds and with lyrics talking about other topics: troubled children ("Troubled Child"), critics about the Music Industry ("Edge of the Blade"), couples in conflict (with a bit of humour in "Back Talk"), and maybe about technology, science-fiction and the future ("Frontiers" and "Rubicon").

This album also had some Hit Singles:"Separate Ways" and "Faithfully" being two of them as I remember now. "Separate Ways" is a very intense Hard Rock song with every musician in the band shinning in their playing and singing. "Faithfully" is another ballad written by Jonathan Cain, very commercial, but with good quality and very good arrangements, particularly by Perry in his vocals and a very good lead guitar by Schon.

"Send Her my Love" has very good keyboard atmospheres. "Chain Reaction" also was another of the songs in this album which was played in FM Radio stations in my city. A Hard-Rock song.

"Edge of the Blade" is one of the heaviest songs in this album, with the guitars played by Schon shinning a lot. "Troubled Child" could be the song in this album with more Prog Rock influences, with a melody played on acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards, very good atmospheres and energetic playing. This is maybe the best song in this album. "Back Talk" has very good drums by Steve Smith (credited as one of the composers of this song), with guitars and no keyboards. The song called "Frontiers" also has some interesting things, particularly in Steve Smith`s drums playing. "Rubicon" has very good heavy guitars, and it closes the album in a high point.

Maybe this album has more Prog Rock influences than "Escape", which in comparison was more successful and maybe more commercial and accessible than "Frontiers". But "Frontiers" also has some very good moments to enjoy.