MindGames

I have had Eternity X's third album, The Edge, for some months now and, as I have stated in my review of The Edge, it is an impressive outing by Eternity X. So I find myself working my way backwards, having just received Eternity X's first two albums, Zodiac and Mind Games. Both are wonderful albums in the progressive metal genre. Mind Games is a somewhat odd album in the sense that it is dark and experimental (not that odd, I guess, considering it is prog metal we are talking about) but it's good, very good. If The Edge is Eternity X's Operation: Mindcrime (Queensryche), Mind Games is easily ETX's Rage for Order (again, Queensryche). Like Rage for Order, Mind Games is a bit difficult to fully digest after one listening but after repeated turns in the cd player, it becomes a very enjoyable disc. And, unlike most prog metal bands, Eternity X avoids the "musical masturbation" (the senseless showing-off) that plagues progressive metal. Instead, Eternity X actually makes enjoyable music. There are very few moments of self-indulgence on this disc but rather, we are treated to topnotch songwriting, excellent vocals, emotionally moving songs and finely-crafted melodies. And, similar to The Edge, the guitar is heavier then Hell (this is a plus). The disc is a semi-concept album about the darker side of human nature, which includes suicide, depression and mental instability. There are songs that almost make you cry with despair and then there are the songs which are quite frightening and scary...

1. "Firestorm" - This song opens with a creepy siren-type sound and a voice repeating something about a meltdown of the mind. And then the guitars explode in a furious roar soon followed by Keith Sudano's vocals which go from harsh and angry to soft and sweet and back again. Good, dark song...almost sounds like some weird hybrid of music from Rage for Order combined with Judas Priest's heavy metal thunderings.
2. "Mind Games" - An acoustic Spanish-type sounding guitar starts this song and Keith Sudano alternates voices, one is beautiful and soft and the other is harsh and desperate, you get the feeling that the character Keith is portraying is somewhat of a split personality and is arguing with himself. The guitars get heavier as the song goes on but when Sudano's soft vocals return, the heavy guitar briefly disappears (only to quickly return). This is an excellent, highly inventive tune.
3. "The Chase" - Okay, Eternity X is not perfect. This song is self-indulgent on the part of Zeek, ETX's bass player, for the song is a two minute bass solo. It is good but not really necessary.
4. "The Savior and the Disease" - Boy, this is an angry song. Harsh, aggressive, vulgar, heavy, disturbed and hate-filled are all words that can be used to describe this tune. And it is quite effective in the context of the album, fits right in with the stories Eternity X is attempting to tell. Good song.
5. "Despair" - This is an extremely sad song, Keith Sudano's vocals really stand out on this piece. The accompanying piano and acoustic guitar early on in the song really fit in quite well with Keith's aforementioned vocals. Excellent song that becomes heavier as it continues.
6. "Crawl Before You Walk" - This is a good, Rush-type song with an oddly positive twist to it, almost as if the mentally twisted character being portrayed here is going through the upside of his ups and downs. This is another excellent song.
7. "Viper II" - Take Queensryche at their heaviest and darkest (the more intense parts of Operation: Mindcrime) and combine that with the sonic fury of Megadeth and you get this song, "Viper II". 'Nuff said.
8. "Faith" - Another almost-positive song, very upbeat and the acoustic guitar sounds brilliant. "Faith", like "Crawl Before You Walk", has a Rush feel to it. It's a short song but it is quite good.
9. "Endless Journey" - Wow! "Endless Journey" is the crowning achievement of Mind Games, we are treated to an epic masterpiece of emotional highs and lows, of desperation and hope and of life and death. Acoustic guitar, a heavily-played electric guitar and superb bass playing intertwine brilliantly to give us one heckuva song.
10. "Eulogy" - Mind Games ends with a sad acoustic song that finishes the album on a perfect note. From what I can gather, the main character of this song has ended his life (I'm not entirely sure what the song is about, I could be wrong) and is looking back at his life through honest eyes, all the pain and pleasure he has experienced, everything. I cannot say it enough, this is a beautiful introspective song, perfect in it's approach and finality it brings to the album.
11. "Eternity" (bonus track) - This song is found on the re-released version of Mind Games ("Eternity" was originally released on Eternity X's second EP) and a welcome addition it is. "Eternity" was written early on in ETX's career but it doesn't show. There are no rough edges, no signs that Keith Sudano is new at the game, for "Eternity" is one of the best songs Keith Sudano has ever written. It's a difficult song to describe, it's epic and big and brilliant.
12. "Switchblade" (bonus track)- "Switchblade" is from Eternity X's first EP and it's a hard-edged, fast-paced song about a killer that prefers using a switchblade on his victims. It's a rough, angry tune and pretty good overall.