One thing I’m not about to get into is yet another MP vs MM debate. It’s been done to death, I’m too old and frankly it gives me a stomach ache
What I will get into, is how I’m currently feeling about the tracks. Waaay too early for me to even think about ranking the album, but here’s where I’m currently at with each track:
The Alien: Love it, and did from early. I think it’s being pushed back a little by some at the moment while they give the newer tracks more time, but I think this is a ripping track that will age well in time.
Answering the Call: Awesome track. Heavy, concise, melodic and just put together really well. One of my early faves.
Invisible Monster: A nice, very inoffensive track with a nice chorus and some nice parts. Nothing spectacular and towards the bottom of these 7 tracks, but in no way bad to me. Well executed, good in album context, just not amazeballs…
Sleeping Giant: Yep. Really like this one. Mean riff, fun and groovy, mixes things up such as the second chorus sung differently, and finishes with a great crescendo which brings back that awesome groovy riff. Classic DT track…
Transcending Time: My favourite off the album. I love that 90’s sound with Rush-type influences, and tracks such as Innocence Faded, the opening to The Killing Hand from Live at the Marquee, The Looking Glass and Barstool Warrior are always amongst my faves. This one is in a similar vein, but eclipses them all for mine. I actually just think it should have been the 6th track for a lighter breather before the epic.
Awaken the Master: Some nice parts, but I just can’t quite connect with this one yet. Feels a bit similar in places to the title track, with the latter just far superior. It seems to have some good ideas, but I just tend to lose interest in it a bit.
A View from the top of the World: Has seriously grown on me to be what I will call a classic epic down the track. Brilliant opening, the soft section is as haunting as “beautiful agony” to me, and the finally free esque outro is great. The only thing that takes away a bit is that “life of legacy” note and abrupt shift. I want to like it, I just don’t. But for a very small portion of an otherwise superb track, I can cop that. I almost feel like the slow section was supposed to be the one leading into the outro, which would have been nice, and the final section in the middle, with the band just turning it on it’s head for something different. But except for the criticism, it’s an outstanding piece of music, with the 20 minutes flying by…
So yea, I think it’s a great album with some tremendous tracks. Carry on…