I finished my first listen of the album. It is not quite at the same level as TGM or Colors, but I currently consider it to be about equal with Parallax II. Of course, BTBAM albums are almost always growers, so I'm interested to see how my impressions change as I listen to it more. The growls sound a bit off, but I am sure that I'll get used to them in time.
My favorite track is King Redeem/Queen Serene. And Life in Velvet is fucking glorious.
I hate hardcore music and vocals (note that I like death metal), will I like this album?
I was already into bands like Opeth and Death before I discovered BTBAM, and had never harbored any sort of aversion towards harsh vocals. In fact, I have always liked them. Yet when I first listened to Colors, I did not like the vocals. However, the melodic guitar lines and overall instrumentation, especially in the three 10+ minute songs, were so addicting that I ended up listened to the album numerous times. I eventually came to love Tommy's vocals, and BTBAM is now one of my all-time favorite bands.
Essentially, do not let the vocals turn you off. The music itself was so strong that I continued to return to it, and my position on the vocals made a complete 180. And I still hate most vocalists that employ a similar style.
As for this specific album, the quantity of growls is greatly toned down. It is more of a prog record than a death metal one, especially when compared to the band's previous output. Definitely give it a shot.