I like this disc quite a bit. It seems a little uneven, though. I mean, at times it feels like something that’s almost punk rock. At other points it leans toward more epic metal sounds. There are even some proggy moments. Still, all but the final cut seems to work together. I guess the real thing is that it seems that songs that are closer together in terms of style tend to be lumped together here. Perhaps splitting them up would have left us with an album that flowed better. As it is, at times it feels like a couple different albums, like a split CD. Either way, though, there is plenty to like about this.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2015  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

With an introduction that has a bit of a Middle Eastern vibe, this powers out into some screaming metal from there. The verses are rather raw and a bit punky. The choruses have a more polished hook element to them. This thing gets fairly extreme later, but the melodic elements remain throughout.

As good as the first couple songs were, this blows them away. It’s a powerhouse, fast paced and frantic metal tune. Yet, it’s more purely epic melodic metal than the previous cuts were. This is just such a powerful piece. It has a great multiple singer vocal arrangement, too. That is made possible by the guest appearance of Dee Snider. This is definitely a contender for best track of the set.