Just revisited to the complete DT12 album after 2-3 years without listening to it.
A few observations
-Intro suite: JR's orchestral parts are the highlights of the song. Nothing else stands out imo.
-Enemy Inside - Overall, good rocking song, but the sound is very muddy with the guitar overtaking everything else. Probably the only song on the record where the song just doesn't breathe.
-The looking glass - Overall great song, however, the ending feels a little bit anti-climatic.
-Enigma machine - Very disappointing instrumental. Feels like a lot of noodling for the sake of noodling.
-Bigger picture - Great song, probably the best on the album. Feels like a complete constructed song.
-Behind the veil - Good song, Rush-like intro, love the heavy main intro riff, the chorus is pretty cool, and I enjoy the outro a lot for some reason.
-Surrender to Reason - Very solid song. I like the intro, very Rush-esque, like the acoustic sections, very memorable JP solo (the not too many notes solo and the Lifeson tribute solo with JM and MM behind that solo).
-Along for the ride - Good "ballady" song overall but the keyboard solo is cringeworthy imo. And not the solo itself (it's a very nice solo), but JR's choice of patch is what irks me. Maybe something more subtle...
-Illumination Theory - Middle section goes a bit too long. Overall, I like the song. Wish they would have included some passages like the hidden nugget in the main song.
Overall, for me, the core of the album is from Enemy Inside and forward (without Enigma Machine). I can live without Awekening Suite and Enigma Machine. The production of the record is very disappointing in this one, with the guitars drowning/overtaking the rest of the instruments (very noticeable in Enemy Inside and some of JR's parts can't be heard clearly, unlike ADTOE) and the snare drum. But the highlight (production wise) was JM's bass. Sounded amazing. Now that I have revisited this album after a few years without listening to it, it's a middle of the pack album for me (but definitely higher than the last DT/MP efforts) and it's probably DT's tribute to Rush. A lot of Rush moments going on in this album (which is something that I personally like). DT12 is a nice contrast to ADTOE but ADTOE sounded more fresh and more dynamic (even with the I&W song structure similarities), while DT12 just sounds balls to the walls, even on the Along for the Ride ballad. I do regret not seeing this DT12 tour....