Affinity is very different. And it is fantastic because of it.
I suppose that was my problem with Vector. It felt a bit more like "Haken by the numbers". Maybe that's not quite right. It's like when the old TV shows would go on vacation and they would air a "flashback episode".
Aquarius a perfect snapshot of new band experimenting with blending different styles.
Visions was an obvious homage to SFAM (so obvious that seemed intentional) and they pulled off their flattery with flying colors.
The Mountain was a major shift in sound and sounded like the band finding their own sound for the first time.
Affinity was an extreme left turn once again, with an intentional shift to sound nothing like any of the previous albums.
Then we have Vector, which sounds more like "OK, so let's sum up...here's everything we've tried so far stuck in a blender." It was the first time that they didn't "throw out the book" and try something completely different, and I think I like the previous four albums better because you never knew what you were getting. Vector is still excellent, and for any other band I would call it a solid debut. It's just that when a band comes out of the gate with four 10/10's in a row, following it up with an 8.5 seems disappointing by comparison.
Of course, your mileage may vary, obviously.
Still, I like what I've heard from Virus so far more than most of what I heard from Vector, so I'm hoping the bigger picture elevates the entire concept. If it feeds into Vector in a good way, it may enhance my appreciation of it more.