Reviews have my ears tingling in anticipation.
Interesting points about dark and DT. I think that ITPOE is the only really good thing on SC. TDEN is super dumb, but I like that about it. It's clearly not trying too hard to be dark or sinister or edgy but has a good dose of knowing wink about it, which I'm ok with. TOT, on the other hand, i feel is trying way too hard and sounds ridiculous to me. I never listen to either record anymore.
I'm trying to say that i don't feel they're a dark band at all. Awake was v introspective so that was about as close to dark as they've been, imo. But "pensive", rather than dark, I'd probably say. That was the problem with a lot of latter MP stuff. He was clearly totally committed to being seen as one of the really metal guys but it just doesn't sit right in DT.