Album Review: Project Arcadia - A Time Of Changes

Modern metal has become about nothing but guitars and drums pounding away, and if you're lucky there will be a vocalist who doesn't ruin things with a tortured performance. Heaviness is the only thing that matters, and singing isn't heavy, so it's often ignored. But I still believe in the power of singers, those magical voices that call to us to sing along with them, that write anthems we'll never forget, no matter how long it's been since we heard those songs. Those are the people I have the most respect for, the ones who I will follow through their careers. Anyone can tune a guitar down to an inhuman level and chug away, but very few can do what a great singer can.

Urban breed is one of those singers. Between his work with Tad Morose, Bloodbound, and Trail Of Murder, Urban has shown that while he may sometimes be difficult to find, he never fails to deliver. I hold Bloodbound's “Tabula Rasa” as one of my five favorite metal records ever, and Trail Of Murder's debut isn't that far behind. Needless to say, when Urban joined Project Arcadia for their second album, I was anxious to hear what one of the great voices in metal was going to come up with this time.

Project Arcadia is a separate beast from Urban's previous bands, taking a more progressive bent to their blend of traditional and power metal. The opening “Here To Learn” is brimming with technical guitar playing, while the album veers off into softer territory than I can ever recall with the acoustic “The Ungrateful Child”. In between, the band puts forward a healthy dose of metallic might, with plenty of room for melody to juxtapose the instrumental heft. That is the beauty of what this kind of music can be, but rarely is. The clash of melody and modern heaviness is captivating when done well, which “A Time Of Changes” does quite often.

Here To Learn” throws down the gauntlet, but doesn't serve as a fitting introduction for what the album is going to be. It ventures further into the progressive aspect of guitar playing, which stifles Urban's melody in the chorus. It eventually sinks in, but it's not the massive statement the best songs on the album are. Compared to songs like “Shelter Me” and “Beggars At The Door”, it feels tame and restrained.

To be honest, this kind of technical, modern metal isn't normally my style of music, because 99% of the bands that play this way lack any melodic skill with their vocals. Project Arcadia stands out, and stands above, those bands because Urban is able to take these rhythmic songs and paint soaring melodies atop them. The hooks on “A Time Of Changes” are sharp, deep, and sticky. The chorus on “A Formidable Foe” is, to pardon the pun, quite formidable, while the more hard rock “I Am Alive” is unforgettable. It didn't take long for these songs to become a permanent part of my mental jukebox.

It may sound like I'm giving Urban too much credit, but he really is the factor that separates and elevates “A Time Of Changes” over any number of similar albums I've had the misfortune of hearing. And after hearing what happened to Tad Morose and Bloodbound after his departure, my assessment is proven.

I could nitpick here and there a few little things that I would have done differently had I been making the record, but the bottom line is that Project Arcadia has a winner on their hands here. “A Time Of Changes” is a rock solid modern metal album that reminds me of why I began to love metal those many years ago. When I think that metal and I have grown too far apart, an album like this comes along to remind me that there is still a connection. It's funny how often those albums feature Urban's voice.

Chris C

Music Reviewer

Chris is a professional intellectual. He graciously shares his deep thoughts on the world of music with the world. You're welcome.