I am a huge fan of JSS and have loved most of what he has put his name to. It took me a while to appreciate this album because at first I found the production quite off putting. The drums are so in your face it takes a while to get used to, as is the guitar which is way down in the mix. Anyhoo, this is Jeff getting his Prog metal head on, much in the same way as Sons Of Apollo, and now after many plays I have grown to love this record.
Lots of low end riffage, crunch, and killer grooves mixed with Jeff’s trademark vocals and harmonies. I think the brief here was to try something a little different within a genre that has basically seen and done it all, and once you rap your head around the production this is a very rewarding record. You get a couple of power ballads, which Jeff does so well in Belie and Torn, but as usual with me it’s the more crunchy toons that shake my tree the best, namely Detonate and the epic Dance With The Devil. Very cool indeed. Honourable mentions to Origami and Afterglow which are both killer tunes.
Long may Jeff keep releasing awesome records as we are in a time that is blessed with great vocalists right now.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
