Album review: MIND KEY – Aliens In Wonderland

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19]

Nearly a decade since Mind Key’s last offering ‘Pulse For A Graveheart’ the Italian prog/power metallers return. For those who like lots of great orchestration (Dario De Cicco), lots of melody and strong vocals throughout (Aurello Fierro), this could be your go-to disc – at least this month.

Combining elements of Vanden Plas, Royal Hunt, Symphony X and, yes, even Dream Theater. Mind Key should tick the boxes for respective fans of those bands.

The only negative may be the sheer relentless nature of some of the pieces which tend to pummel and keep pummeling , Hank (The Blazing Eyes) being a good example.

Elsewhere, there is a symphonic metal thing going on with ‘Hate At First Sight’ in the opening flourish and the relentless bombast is firmly in place after that.

‘Angry Men’ chugs along at rapid pace, whilst ‘Hands Off Cain’ is the big ballad and a great vehicle for Fierro. And Toto might be proud of ‘Oblivion’ even if the chorus doesn’t quite enhance the killer vibe in the verse.

The commercial appeal is also evidenced on ‘Vertigo (Where The Cold Wind Blows)’. I don’t know whether I have a Peter Cox fixation when it comes to vocalists but ‘Pure Heart’ could be a slightly racy Go West outtake.

Yes, you’ve heard it all done before but not always as well as this. A welcome comeback, nevertheless. ****

Review by David Randall

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