Straight from the opener 'Why we disappeared', this record is almost a game of spot the influences, as 'I am the Door' have clearly produced an album in 'Frequency' that lifts ideas from some great bands out there. However this is by no means a bad thing, as the result is a record that sounds like a nicely blended mix of Minus the Bear, The Mars Volta and the Maple State with a bit of Failsafe thrown in for good measure. One of the most striking things about this record is Justin Percival's piercing vocals. While lyrically, it's not a groundbreaking piece of work, Percival manages to dance beautifully between emotionally charged choruses and grating screams. His talents are best displayed on songs 'Shine Through' and 'Something Beautiful'.
'Frequency' isn't an album that relies on catchy vocal melodies or repetitive guitar riffs to keep you interested though. A lot of thought has clearly been put into the song structures on this album, and this clearly shows through the use of schizophrenic drum loops and bass licks. Take a listen to 'Does it mean something', and you'll realise these weren't songs written for the sake of getting on the radio. The only real gripe I have with this CD is the ending. While 'Frequency' only comprises of 9 tracks, there is a secret 10th song some three minutes after the closing notes of 'Make Yourself Strong'. This is something of a shame, as this number is very capable of standing up against any of the other songs on the CD, and is worthy of a bit more coverage.
As far as band names go, 'I am the Door' is pretty shambolic. You'd be forgiven for overlooking this record on the basis of name alone, but it really would be a shame to do so. While not being the most lyrically deep of records, 'Frequency' is a very solid collection of songs and definitely a breath of fresh air when compared to 90% of the other albums out there. 'I am the Door' are clearly a talented bunch of lads, and 'Frequency' deserves to propel them to greater things.
Andrew
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