JAIME is a completely unknown band to me and maybe that is not that strange as this Norwegian prog metal band, hailing from Bergen, has only released one EP (Flow) in 2021. So, Above And Beyond is the debut album from JAIME and according to their extensive bio they got their inspiration from Steve Vai, Devin Townsend, Nightwish and Dream Theater; so, I was hopefully in for a surprise; listening to and reviewing this album indeed. However, after the opening track Old Spirits, Insects And Butterflies I was flabbergasted as this track was really weird, with lots of "odd" choir singing and distorted guitar and electronics. However, the follow up, instrumental title track was definitely much better as JAIME's music here truly reminded me of Vai and Townsend; meaning heavy, intricate, complicated guitar work galore. All the instrumental songs on this album are indeed excellent, featuring great riffs, dark melodies, and soaring guitar solos by Jaime himself. However the ballads, featuring lead vocals by Angelika Frajberg are, and here comes the euphemism, not really my cup of tea, as the vocals are SO dramatic, too sweet and really over the top, so, that I cannot listen to these tracks for longer than ten seconds.... Furthermore, JAIME's theatrical music, with choir always, in songs like With You By My Side or One More Day are also almost a nuisance and these songs stand in huge contrast to the excellent prog metal, hard hitting songs that are also featured on Above And Beyond. So, as far as I am concerned, I would not recommend this album, as it is too much of a hopscotch of very good and unbelievably bad prog metal songs indeed. *** Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
