Album Review: Mind Key - MKIII: Aliens In Wonderland

This has been an odd year for progressive metal so far. Other than Dream Theater's newest release, there have been almost no records big enough to land on my radar. I know I did review the new Darkwater record, but beyond that progressive metal has been in a tough position. Of course, some of that depends on how you define prog vs Prog. This new Mind Key album, for instance, is labelled as progressive metal, yet only one of the eleven tracks hits six minutes long (and only by nine seconds). Is that prog?

I've heard it argued both ways; that prog is about defying conventional structures, and that prog is a style of complex music regardless of originality. Personally, I don't know how I can call an album of purely five minute long, verse/chorus songs a prog album. The music might be complex, technical even, but it isn't progressing anything. Mind Key's music is a mix of Dream Theater and Symphony X, which is fine, but they don't add anything new to the mix. Being derivative is not prog. At least not in my book.

But what of the music? Leaving the nomenclature behind, we can look at this record as coming up short on both ends. Good prog metal needs to either have mind-blowing musicianship, or strong melodic hooks, to really capture the listener's attention. Mind Key doesn't hit either of those marks. The melodies are ok-ish, but there isn't a single one that stands up to what Dream Theater does with songs like "Home" or "Outcry". These melodies are mostly forgettable, with the exception of "Hate At First Sight", which is memorable for how much it sounds like an 80s soft rock track. It's the best thing on the record by a mile, but it also feels a bit disconnected from what year it currently is.

The other thing is that the musicianship, while excellent, isn't flashy enough for what this kind of prog needs. Without the big melodies, the album's core focus is on the work the guitars and keys do, and there isn't much there to impress me. The appeal of listening to Michael Romeo or John Petrucci is hearing a litany of riffs and solos you can't imagine fingers being able to actually play. That's the whole crux of that side of the prog debate. Mind Key doesn't go far enough in that direction.

That leaves me with an existential question; what is a prog album, if it is neither prog nor Prog? In the case of Mind Key, it's an album that is rather bland, and all too perfunctory. "Aliens In Wonderland" doesn't make a strong enough case for why I should be investing myself in this music. It doesn't give me enough to warrant repeated listens.

Ultimately, even if an album is decent and well-played, it needs to do what it sets out to. I don't think this one does, so I can't say you need to hear it.