Frozen in Time

 

    The debut album from Ace of Hearts (not including two EPs released last year) sure is an album. I've been following this band since they formed in early 2020 so I want to be nice about how I describe this. The music isn't bad, I like it a fairly good amount, but it feels lacking; it really is a first album, in that it just hasn't found its footing yet. I feel like there's some definitive element or style that's missing from the majority of the album. It's perfectly fine indie-rock and it sounds like a few of the songs have taken inspiration from Daft Punk, which I'm always up for, and sometimes reminds me of ELO, with how it incorporates strings and synths throughout. Unfortunately, the uses of these areas of creativity aren't utilized that effectively; there's nothing to really define the sound or feel of the music. I think that the brightest look forward for the band is in the (maybe) title track of the album "A Life Frozen in Time", which has very clearly defined sections and distinct feels, which creates a very solid piece and easily the best track on the album. I feel like that sort of style could be a good shot to aim for. As for individual aspects of the music, the instrumentation and composition of the overall album is very good. Luke Wheeler, the main instrumentalist, and Johnny Manchild produced this album and it sounds great, especially for an independent work. The "rock" aspects are done very well, and other various genres are tackled throughout that largely work. I hate to say it, but the most present let down is the vocals. The lead singer, Jacob Rabon, is obviously putting his heart into the vocals but it feels unrefined. Some of his performances sound awkward or like he was struggling to keep his breath flowing throughout longer lines. It isn't bad, but it doesn't keep up with the quality of the backing instruments. I'm hoping that, if the band comes out with more music, that they continue to evolve and polish their music; I think that it could be really great with some more time spent on it. 

    Highlights: Find Me in Your Dreams, Silver Lining, Monophobia II, Deadbeat Boulevard, A Life Frozen in Time.

Rating: 4/6