This tape, besides being exciting simply because it's from Australia, rings with promise. Jacob's Well is very talented and this tape shows it. They have a melodic, blues-based sound that is definitely catchy. Does anyone remember Vandenberg's debut album? It was the last album I flipped-out over before I got right with God. This tape doesn't have the full punch that Vandenberg did on that one, but if they had the same budget that Vandenberg did, it'd be a knockout. Guitarist Glen Cannon makes an impressive showing here. His leads are melodic, similar to Adrian Vandenberg or Mathias Jabs. Glen's not flashy, just very fluid. Glen also handles the vocals, which also bear resemblance to Vandenberg. There's a noticeable AC-DC influence in his sometimes plodding and bluesy voice as well. Glen does a good job at both positions, which is no easy chore. "Loving Heart" showcases some of the great riffs Glen is capable of. They're built around a really good blues rhythm. Jacob's Well is doing what has made bands like Led-Zeppelin and Whitesnake famous: using bluesy chords and leads with lots of volume. "Prayer For Salvation" features some killer riffs that are pulled off by hitting harmonics and using the volume knob to control the pitch. This riff goes into some good, plain melodic notes. Someone should give these guys a record contract. Judging by the riffs on the album, I'm sure these guys just smoke in concert! Some of you may not be impressed with your first listening. They don't have polished production or an aggressiveness that would classify them as metal. It's not "no-holds barred metal," it's real good hard rock. When you give this tape a few more listens, you can begin to enjoy the melodic feeling of the music and the fluid leads woven into each song.
