Sonata used to be one of my favourite bands.
Unia was a big disappointment, initially, but has grown on me a little.
TDoG is more of the same, too many vocals and lyrics, too many layers of Tony's vocals.
Not enough room for the music to, for a better word, 'breathe', for me.
The vocals seem to suffocate everything else.
I bought the Japanese version (as I always buy everything Sonata have done) a year ago and probably
have only managed to listen to it a few times, it is getting better, but it will never be in my essential Sonata listening.
Actually the two Jap bonus tracks, are among the most interesting for me, as they have some decent riffs and less of Tony.
I'll always love the first 4 albums and regard them as some of the finest of the power metal genre.