This album may end up being my favorite Fates Warning album ever. It's fucking magnificent.
I was absolutely sure that Ray Alder did not have another performance like this in him but holy shit does he carry this album on his back or what? Everything about this one just clicks right into place. The riffs, the guitar tone, the drums, the melodies, all of it just blended into a nice big fat juicy sonic feast
This album is nothing like "Darkness In a Different Light" which I liked, but wasn't crazy about. It reminds me more of "Disconnected" - another album of theirs that I liked, but wished it had some guitar solos in it. This album feels like it could have followed "Disconnected." And holy shit the guitar solos on this album some of the best Matheos has ever done. Man, he knows exactly when to shred and when to pull back. Incredible musician. Incredible album. Didn't expect this at all.