I just read this whole thread to catch up
At any rate, I listened through the entire thing once while reading the lyrics (I am now playing it again in the background).
My first impressions are: holy shit. This is really quite the accomplishment by the band.
Too early to rate, I definitely need to digest it more, but I am so impressed by the knowledge of the ambition and scope of what they attempted, and how they fully committed to it, and nailed it. Just a really impressive musical achievement.
The production is also wonderful, which is an extra added bonus.
The sound of the band, over the course of the album, is like Pink Floyd had a child with Queen, and that child grew up listening to Dream Theater, and then made a rock opera.
There are loads of musical ideas here, with plenty of real piano and other instruments, as well as a good amount of riffage and plenty of great solos. And JLB is just ridiculously good on this project.
I need to familiarize myself more with the actual songs, but overall, I could not be more impressed with this album. Astonishing, indeed.