ACT I: THE LAKE SOUTH, THE RIVER NORTH

There's was absolutely no doubt in my mind that after the power trio of Dream Theater, Opeth and Tool eventually weakened, new bands would explore new boundaries. Right now I would say there's a new trio, conformed by the brilliant Haken, the complex Between The Buried And Me, and the conceptually brilliant The Dear Hunter. The first two are usually agreed upon, but that one third band is always disputed.

This last one is known for having released five albums focused entirely on one story, and there's still one left to be released. They're also, for me, the best progressive metal band founded in this millennium. Something about their amazing and intricate musicianship combined with a phenomenal sense of musicality makes them as good as they are.

For the album itself, it's probably the weakest of the five current acts. And the only reason is its length, it's way too short! Sure, it's longer than most classic progressive rock releases, but The Dear Hunter would soon be known for their multiple-track lengthy albums. Ignoring that, this album is still of very high quality.

The first two tracks work as an opener, before City Escape kicks in. This track was the first The Dear Hunter song I ever heard, and it left me completely dumbfounded. It has an amazing sense of tension that perfectly encapsulates the lyrics. Just thinking about this song makes you excited for the amazing journey that are the other acts. It has some absolutely phenomenal build-ups in it.

The track that follows up, The Inquiry Of Ms. Terri, is my second favorite from the album, and it features the theatrical side of the band, which can be heard a lot in their discography. Very fun track that also manages to combine bombastic instrumentation with fragile and precise vocal sections.

The third track that I love from here is The Pimp And The Priest, which also features very theatrical vocals and lyrics. Feels taken out of a bar scene in a Disney movie! 1878 is another highlight with a very sweet U2-ish chorus and a good amount of build-ups.

There for sure some phenomenal content in this album, and while it's probably their worst act, it works amazingly as a prologue for the upcoming ones. Four Stars, an excellent progressive metal release.

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