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I couldn't get into last year's success Dreaming Neon Black for some reason... It was an excellent album, but I just couldn't get into it. Go figure. Not so with this new album, I got into it on the first listen. While the lyrical content is still... hmmm... depressing, the music has a different sound than on Dreaming..., the change of producer may be one of the reasons for that. This album is somewhat less obscure than its predecessor.

Not a weak song on this album, it's actually hard to pick a favorite, so diverse that they are. Vocalist Warrel Dane is once again outstanding, showing his formidable vocal range. I actually like the vocals better than on Dreaming Neon Black. Musically, well, it's Nevermore, need I say more? Some argue they're power metal, but I tend to disagree - I just call them heavy metal, no sub-genre needed. There's no such thing as perfection, but those guys come pretty damn close. I get the feeling that, like its predecessor, this album will be in the top 5 albums of the year. Worth mentionning, a cover of Paul Simon's The Sound Of Silence, and two video tracks are included.

Also worth mentionning are the lyrics. They're not "happy", but that's Nevermore. They are however well worth paying attention to, it is obvious that a lot of work went into them (something some bands should work on) and they definitely add another dimension to the songs, they sure weren't just an afterthought. The artwork in the CD booklet is at times weird, at times somewhat disturbing. It's hard to get a better package than this.

How they're gonna top this one is beyond me... Now go buy.