Aztec Jade - 'Frame Of Mind'
                                                                                                                              Released September 12, 1997. On Capital Music Group (CMG)
THE BAND:
Leon Ozug: Vocals
Matt Howenstein: Guitars
Tim Becker: Keyboards
Bryan Kowalski: Bass
Rick Miller: Drums

TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.)"The Calling": This mid up-tempo track reminded me a lot of Queensryche's "Empire" release. There are a couple of great little double bass patterns. There are a lot of hooks throughout the chorus. Instead of a guitar solo there is a little keyboard break down which I thought was a nice effect.
2.)"To Believe": With another mid up-tempo track the first thing the listener will notice is the bass line. During the chorus there is another little double bass drum pattern that catches you off guard. There is a break down before the guitar solo.
3.)"Mad Not Crazy": This is an up-tempo double bass track, with very catchy choruses.
4.)"Desperate Land": This up-tempo track is the first to have a real burning guitar solo it is small but still burning. This also has a keyboard solo.
5.)"Nosferatu": The ballad, which in modern times stands for vampire. This one reminds me a lot of "Silent Lucidity" by Queenrhyche.
6.)"Atlantis": This very abstract mid-tempo track has a beautifully done guitar scale in the intro. The choruses are the same as mentioned above, a lot of hooks.
7.)"Regatta Fugue II": In this track you can definitely hear a Styx influence musically. It seems the added a little more of the hooks into the verses.
8.)"Stained": This track also is very abstract in the way the verses are arranged. It has a very laid-back guitar solo.
9.)"Gates Of Babylon": This track has one of those strange patterns to it. It reminds me of "Blue Murder". It's just about up John Sykes alley. Another one with great drum work. This also has a very laid back solo.
10.)"Requiem": This, being the last track, reminds me of newer progressive groups out today.

     Rather it is this writers opinion or not, some say that you must have a lot of hooks in your music to make it sell. Me personally I buy what I like. Through listing to Aztec Jade I found it hard to believe that all the members are self-taught. With this group releasing material this good, groups like Rush and Queensrhyche better look over their shoulders. Aztec Jade has the potential to make it in a business that is very hard to break into. Even though you hear the influences of other groups, their songs are original and fresh sounding.