Here's my review of the album (on a date before the official release of September 5, 2008,
presumably 07-31-2008) :
In Sacred Flames - Reminds me of Symphony X's Oculus ex Inferni from Paradise Lost, and I wish it was longer likewise. My only complaint here. 5 out of 5 because it's more memorable than most of the album. 5/5
Behold The Wicked Child - Pretty cool song, with a good chorus melody. Typical Schaffer riffs, nothing really special. This song sounds reminicent of Horror Show. Well, this is definitely one of the better songs on the album and it's grown on me, but Schaffer needs to stop with the damn drawn out outros. 4/5
Minions Of The Watch - Cool Schafferage, but weird singing by Barlow in the verses. I here Ripper all over the verses actually... Not Literally. The chorus is great though. Here's the first of a few songs that could have been made longer and better, but Schaffer decided to make them interlude type segue-ness. 3/5
The Revealing - Cool Schaffer riffs, and badass singing in the verses. This song is all around
awesome, but I wish it was longer, and I don't mean the dragged out outro. A minute and a half of the same damn riff. If this song was longer, it very well could have been my second favorite on the album. 4/5
A Gift Or A Curse - For a second I thought I was listening to Blue October with some Jamaican music. What I thought was Matt singing in more weird styles is actually Schaffer. I wouldn't mind if he sang more, but this song definitely screams Blue October for those who have heard them. The heavy middle section is pretty cool with a nice solo before coming back to more Blue October. 5/5
Crown Of The Fallen - Familiar and kinda boring drum beat in the verses, with Matt giving of a Geoff Tate vibe... Maybe it's just me. Very nice mellow chorus and a Glorious Burden-ish solo. 2/5
The Dimension Gauntlet - Funky opening riff into those galloping riffs Schaffer knows so well. This song features the first appearance of the Dorian riff from Demons & Wizards' Touched By The Crimson King during Set's speech. Speaking of returning riffs, here comes The Coming Curse's outro riff. 2/5
I Walk Alone - Ahh the first single. It's not too bad, but nothing really special either. Barlow is menacing, and the chorus isn't bad. Set makes it clear he will divide and devour... Something he does alot on this album... The instrumental section is cool but could be much more. 3/5
Harbinger Of Fate - Or Reflections, you decide. This song's better anyway. Maybe it's just a Reprise of some kind. The whole story reprises itself several times as it is. Nice slow song with an epic chorus. Set is wicked if you didn't know. Cool solo even if it was like 3 seconds... The tribal hand drums seem out of place like I had one of those annoying pop up ads on my screen. Some cool Latin and bell tolls end the song. 3/5
Crucify The King - More slower riffage. Matt sings like Timporary Owens a little but also has his own awesome high note godliness... The song speeds up a little for a nice little solo. The bridge is pretty cool, but the chorus really saves this song from being kind of bland. For a song about Set causing the crucifixion of Christ, it's not very fast or brutal. 2/5
Sacrificial Kingdoms - Cool riffs with Barlow singing overlapped high and lower notes pretty much the whole song. Awesome verse and chorus. Signature Schaffer riffs return, with a little solo, before the final chorus. For some reason the last bit of the final chorus reminds me a little of Adema's "Trust"... Don't ask. 5/5
Something Wicked (Part 3) - In case you forgot, Set is wicked... Something Wicked Trilogy lyrics reprise themselves, but it works considering the title of the song. The chorus is pretty cool. The cool Coming Curse instrumental section returns with a little revision, but is still awesome. More multi-headed Hansi singing from Barlow. OK, this song is like a summary of The Coming Curse. 3/5
Divide And Devour - Ok, let's see if we got everything so far: Set is Wicked, he's an anitchrist, he's a Harbinger Of Fate, he assassinates and he divides and devours shit. Well, he will eventually anyway. This is probably my least favorite song on the album. Not too fond of the melodies in the chorus. Pretty fast and typical riffage from Schaffer. 2.5/5
Come What May - THE best song on the album. Only flaw is that the Dorian riff returns again. Oh well, it's a cool riff anyway. Great verses that end with some Barlow screams before breaking down into the best chorus of the album as well. Haven't really studied the lyrics yet, but this song doesn't really scream "I will kill all you damn dirty humans!" Anyway, I love the ambient instrumental section. I wish it lasted longer as well. Schaffer drags out meaningless rhythm sections, but not awesome musical genius. WTF? The remainder of the song is very uplifting including the awesome chorus. I know it's a long chorus, but I don't care, it should have been repeated 4 times at the end. 10/5
Epilogue - Pretty much Overture. That's about it. Overture is cool... 2/5
I'd give this album a good 3/5. After almost 2 years, I can safetly say it isn't actually better than Framing Armageddon, and like Part 1, it leaves much to be desired, but I could say that about the whole Something Wicked Story. The lyrics can get a bit redundant at times, but that's not too much of a big deal.... Actually, it kind of is a big deal.
"The destruction of mankind shouldn't be mid-tempo"
Edited: April 22, 2010