FROST* – Day And Age [Limited 2-CD Edition] (2021)

Melodic progsters FROST* have always presented a unique blend of startling musicianship, gigantic production and inimitable sound. Their upcoming albums ”Day And Age” is a cohesion of all these attributes, and is perhaps the first studio album to so openly exploit the band’s deep sense of irony.
Fronted by co-founders Jem Godfrey and John Mitchell, and supported by the stupendous Nathan King (Level 42) on bass, the band currently does not have a dedicated drummer but continues their legacy of playing with some of the best in the business: Pat Mastelotto (Mr. Mister, King Crimson), Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan) and Darby Todd (The Darkness).
Musically, this is a blend of wonderful sonics ranging from Asia, Saga, Marillion, Peter Gabriel Genesis, ’80s Daivid Gilmour’s Pink Floyd to Sons Of Apollo. The title track alone worth this terrific release, and if you need to enjoy the impressive instrumental versions, grab this Limited 2-CD Edition.

Opener and title track “Day and Age” is a full-throttle awesome number co-written by Godfrey and Mitchell. Built around a suspense-filled harmonic guitar and keyboard riff, it is 12 minutes of relentless melodic power and staggering progression. With an overwhelming back-beat, this massive track is everything that Frost* fans have come to expect, and more.
Solid, melodic, almost commercial but proggy, “Day and Age” is one of the most driving and well-constructed compositions you will hear this year. Special mention has to be made of Rodriguez’s drumming, which, while as solid as concrete, also features rarely innovative fills and cymbal work.

Second song “Terrestrial” is complex, heavy Prog that is, again, right up Mitchell’s alley. Beginning with an angular keyboard sample quite unlike any other sound you have heard, it roars and grinds in various odd time signatures, ably handled by Todd, while not losing its sense of bleak melody, delivered through Mitchell’s warm baritone. It is patently Frost*, it is intensely Proggy, it is heavy and it is very satisfying.

“Waiting for the Lie” takes the band to a gentler place, floating on keyboards and electronic sounds, with the vocalists all in fine voice. The song is built around a suspenseful Godfrey arpeggio and has a beautiful, spacey production.
“The Boy Who Stood Still” is the most visual and graphic song on the album. Featuring a voice narration by Jason Isaacs (Star Trek Discovery), it is the story of a boy that accidentally discovers his power to remain perfectly still and to fade away into disappearance until he ceases to exist as a participant in the human race, finally evolving into a watcher of humanity. Godfrey’s vocal and keyboard antics provide massive background, King’s complex but tight bass runs are particularly powerful on this one.

“Island Life” appears to be about the notion of blindly enjoying yourself on holiday, but with a very ironic twist, analyzing the question whether people ever actually question their enjoyment. The rocking composition and arrangement combine to make the song very intense and powerful, and the band truly thunders on this track. ‘Island Life’, which is filled with irony, questions and observation, rocks like a hurricane in paradise.
“Skywards” paints a bleak picture of wandering introspection and escape from the vicious circle of deception. Anguished chord progressions make it very cinematic, but it is Mastelotto’s massive, jagged drum patterns that truly complete this song. He really is a force to be reckoned with.

“Kill the Orchestra” maintains the bleakness, with all the vocalists sharing lead duties at various points. The song varies from immensely heavy riffs to quirky vocal meanderings, built on an angular melody. Godfrey seems to have made a conscious decision to vary Frost*’s various vocal sounds, and the technique works very well on this track. In typical Godfrey fashion, the lead wizard uses his legendary Kronos sampling skills to confer all kinds of voices and sounds.

“Repeat to Fade” continues the theme, only this time with a massive, unstoppable Mastelotto groove. The song is onomatopoeic, because it literally becomes a six-minute, strident repeat to fade. ‘Enjoy yourselves, you scum!’ roars Mitchell, as the song’s groove continues to grip like a vice. One imagines that this is what John Bonham and John Paul Jones would have sounded like if they were playing Prog in 2021.

‘Enjoyment’ whether through white-hot Prog, quirky arrangements, startling performances, cryptic themes or plain old British humor, is all part of Frost*’s DNA, and this album provides copious proof of this. With a nudge and a wink and more than a hint of darkness, ‘Day and Age’ is highly interesting, varied, powerful and, yes, enjoyable.
And of course, when it comes to audio quality, the album stands up with the very best, due largely to Jem Godfrey’s supreme production skills.
HIGHLY Recommended

Disc I
01 – Day and Age
02 – Terrestrial
03 – Waiting for the Lie
04 – The Boy Who Stood Still
05 – Island Life
06 – Skywards
07 – Kill the Orchestra
08 – Repeat to Fade

Disc II
01 – Day and Age (Instrumental)
02 – Terrestrial (Instrumental)
03 – Waiting for the Lie (Instrumental)
04 – The Boy Who Stood Still (Instrumental)
05 – Island Life (Instrumental)
06 – Skywards (Instrumental)
07 – Kill the Orchestra (Instrumental)
08 – Repeat to Fade (Instrumental)
09 – Day and Age (Radio Edit) [Bonus Track]

Jem Godfrey – vocals, keyboards
John Mitchell (Arena, Kino) – guitars
Nathan King (Level 42) – bass

with:
Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Mister Mister) – drums
Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan, Josh Groban) – drums
Darby Todd (The Darkness, Martin Barre) – drums
Jason Isaacs (Star Trek Discovery) – voice

Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Day-Age-Ltd-2CD-Frost/dp/B08ZBPK47S