This is the third album from this prog supergroup/project. They bring together members of modern prog rock royalty: Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Pete Trewevas (Marillion), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings). They all found time to put this beast together, paying homage to the great prog bands of old with a modern twist. In true prog style, and to make this as overblown as possible, this album is one piece of music spread over four sides and indexed as 12 parts. Doesn’t get more prog than that does it kiddies?
In all seriousness though, this an amazing journey from beginning to end. It’s superbly played and written, full of highs and lows, with an amazing clarity and production. Controversial opinion coming up here, but I would say other than Portnoy, this is the best album that any of the others have been part of. Roine Stolt has come close with some of the Flower Kings albums. I’m not a Marillion fan, and Neal Morse leaves me cold lyrically, so its quite easy for me to make that judgement.
I grew up with the prog bands of the seventies, and this album is a wonderful tribute to those style of bands.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
