THE FULLNESS OF TIME

After a few weeks searching the local stores for this disc, I finally found it a week ago. Since then, nothing has graced my ears but this disc. I tend to be someone who needs to be drawn in to a recording very quickly. Call me impatient, but I need the quick fix. I know alot of very good music has passed me by because of this trait, but that's just the way I am. With that said, this one drew me in from the very first note. I tend to like all prog, but particularly prog-metal. A warning to those who are drawn to bands like IQ, Marillion, and even Ayreon; this is alot harder. This is true prog-metal. This is the type of disc that has to be played loud. Wailing guitars, soaring vocals, and atmospheric keyboards complete a very original sound. Ray Alder sounds reborn throughout. Much more so than on FWX. The mix is extremely clean and the disc flows extremely well. One note, I've never heard of the drummer before, but he is absolutely a graduate of the Mark Zonder school of drumming. Never in your face, but so adept that you'll find yourself replaying passages to ensure that what you just heard was in fact real. Can you say new Skins hero. I think so. I'm never one to do track by track analysis, but what you'll find is that each track offers something new to the listener while remaining in continuity with the rest of the disc. For those who have difficulty with harder prog 4 stars, Those who like it loud, easily 5 stars. The best of this genre in 2005 hands down.