Since reviews are posting, and I know there have been some questions about the epic, here are some thoughts from me:
It is a VERY good DT epic. As with anything that long, it is taking awhile to digest, so I won't even attempt to rate or compare it to other epics. But to compare it as far as sound, I would say it reminds me the most of Illumination Theory in terms of some of the riffs, and A Change of Seasons in terms of composition and structure.
The sample that many of you heard is from the intro. It begins with a symphonic section that reminds me somewhat of V/Odyssey era Symphony X. That section builds, and then into a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of IT and PBD. First "main" part of the song once it gets going has a verse/chorus structure, and the chorus (which comes back later) is pretty catchy.
In the middle, there is a softer section that is driven by JP acoustic guitar and cello. Then James comes in after a bit. It feels a lot more integrated as part of the song than, say, the soft parts of TCOT or IT. The transition into it is VERY smooth, and it doesn't feel like you are listening to something that is a completely different song altogether. It absolutely feels like it belongs. I would kind of compare it to a blend of the Beautiful Agony section of ANTR and the soft "angels fall/heretic" section of ITPOE.
We also get some really juicy DT signature riffing and instrumental gynmastics in the middle.
And a solid, but maybe somewhat predictable sounding closing section. Doesn't necessarily feel like a huge, soaring, epic ending. But that being said, (1) it is a satisfying ending and doesn't feel like it necessarily needs to be huge; and (2) I haven't spent a lot of time with the epic, and it is possible the ending may have more impact, and I just haven't processed it yet.
Overall, it is a solid epic. And I have no idea where I would rank it among DT's other "mega-epics" (20-minute+ songs [A Change of Seasons, Six Degrees, Octavarium, In the Presence of Enemies, The Count of Tuscany, Illumination Theory]). But I am pretty sure that fans that like most of those will like this one as well.