Milliontown - Frost*

So, another few days go by and another batch of albums go through my ears. What have I for you today? A band you've probably not heard of. Frost* is an interesting group. I guess most groups are interesting in their own way, but this band is interesting to me in the way they defy their genre. Sure, any casual listener could slap "progressive rock" on the band with no problem. But I beg to differ. I tend to think that we could label them that way, but it wouldn't be appropriate because they've really pioneered a new version of the genre.
Milliontown is the first album by this band, and until a few weeks ago, their only album. It starts out with "Hyperventilate" which is has a lot of progressive elements in it, but I would still hold back that title. The instrumental that kicks it off sounds much like Dream Theater would if they experimented with a lot of electronic filters. Then, the album shifts gears into "No Me No You" and your expectations are thrown out the window. The verse has a very short and quick metal sound to it, but the refrain and bridge are quite symphonic (almost in a classical sense).
Much like The Pixies, Frost* capitalizes on the power of drastic volume and energy shifts. This one song will take you on a roller coaster of all aspects: orchestration, pacing, layering, etc. It's really worth listening to just to get a sense for what I'm talking about. "Snowman" slows it down and introduces a vocal filter that is used for the rest of the album. I love it. It's almost like something you'd hear on an electronica album, but it's soft and lyrical. "The Other Me" and "Black Light Machine" are wonderfully written, yet crushingly powerful, songs as well.
Finally, it comes to the title track: "Milliontown." If you read my blog often, you'll recognize it as one of my honorable mentions for my epic list. Why an honorable mention and not an entry? Because although it is a magnificent song, it doesn't feel like just ONE song. To me, it lacks the continuity of other great epics. However, it's still an amazing listen, and one I highly recommend.
I think those of you out there that avoid prog because it's "too complicated" or "not your style" should give this album a chance. I think you'll find a lot of things you like, and before you know it, you'll have enjoyed an album labeled as progressive rock.

Free link to the album on Napster:
http://free.napster.com/view/album/index.html?id=12205520