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Frost*: Day And Age
Frost* - Day And Age Album Art

Frost*: Day And Age

Avant Garde Progressive Rock
3.5/5.0

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InsideOut Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 05.12.2021 | Released: 14.05.2021

The ever-evolving UK prog band Frost* returns with their fourth long-player in nearly the same years, thus reducing the time between albums by three years. The eclectic band, formed by the equally enigmatic keyboard player Jem Godfrey, arrives with Day And Age without drummer Craig Blundell who departed the band in 2019. For the new recording, and typical of Frost* experimentation, the trio invited three guest drummers: Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan, Josh Groban), Darby Todd (The Darkness, Martin Barre) and Pat Mastelotto (Mister Mister, King Crimson).

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Frost*

What has not changed is Frost*'s ongoing pursuit of avant garde progressive rock scored around Godfrey' experimental keyboard playing and programming. Which makes me wonder again why I listen (and review) another Frost* recording. I'm simply not a fan of keyboard-centric progressive (or any other) rock. (This is the guy who, every time he hears a Gary Numan or Gary Wright song on his car radio, turns to the nearest classical music station.) But let's not lump Godfrey and Frost* into such pedestrian music. I, and perhaps you faithful reader, listen to a new Frost* album simply to hear what's new, their progression and experimentation.

And you'll hear the same within the truly progressive and provocative rock of the lengthy and expansive title cut or the following Terrestrial, once you get by the weird programming that accompanies the vocals at the start. It evolves into a piece with thick riffage and rough drumming accentuated by Godfrey's keys. Kill The Orchestra is the other lengthy piece where voice, synths, and rhythm section face off against some bombastic riffage. And the saxophone at the end was pretty cool. Alternatively, Waiting For The Lie is soft and seemingly introspective when largely driven by voice and piano, synths swirling as necessary. Similar is Skywards, yet it turns more symphonic in parts and has some more focused drumming. As usual I found myself more drawn to the songs which were more accessible prog rock songs with easily caught rhythm and groove and catchy melody like Island Life and the heavy, yet upbeat, Repeat To Fade.

All in all, Day And Age is simply typical Frost*: an album rife and resilient with adventurous and avant garde progressive rock experimentation powered by Jem Godfrey's keyboard eclecticism. Recommended for prog wonkers everywhere.




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The Take Away

All in all, Day And Age is simply typical Frost*: an album rife and resilient with adventurous and avant garde progressive rock experimentation powered by Jem Godfrey's keyboard eclecticism. Recommended for prog wonkers everywhere.

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