This album seems to have a lot going on in every song, which makes every listen different, as you pick up something new as you listen. There seems to be two things vying for your attention in every song: the vocal line, and the guitars. Warrel Dane's performance is spot on, and the melodic hooks in the songs are memorable, and after a few listens, you seem almost compelled to try to sing along. Then, underneath that, there are two guitarists (Jeff Loomis and Steve Smyth) playing some riffs and solos that are probably the best that Nevermore has ever recorded. There is a strong emphasis on technicality, and the two guitarists deliver. They keep the music complex, but not inaccessable. Also, as an added treat, James Murphy adds a solo to the song, "The Holocaust of Thought", which drives home the point of this album being guitar driven.

 

It is hard to sentence a band that has such a reputation as being one of the top bands in the world. But, that does not impress me, so I will judge them for this album, and not for their previous efforts. My judgment is that Nevermore has to continue this dual guitar attack, and keep the production of their music on this level. I am not impressed by Warrel Dane's vocal work, but I find that it is fitting for the music they are playing, so I will not touch him. Though, I will sentence them to spend time with a dictionary, and figure out that "theme" and "endeavor" towards said theme means. This album starts to flow together, songs smoothly transitioning into the next, at about the sixth or seventh song. So, maybe they figured out what this words meant, but not until they had most of this album written and recorded.