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This latest from legendary Swedish symphonic Prog band The Flower Kings (their 17th album overall and 5th since re-forming in 2019) is a strong entry, and possibly the best of their recent string of albums, but takes a gentler, mellower tone overall than much of their previous work, emphasizing melodies and intricate instrumental tapestries. Consisting of 12 tracks and a 71 minute run-time, the band stretches out on several tracks, creating some moving, emotional themes. Led by longtime members Roine Stolt (guitars and vocals) and Hans Froiberg (vocals) and the welcome recent addition of Lalle Larsson on keyboards, the band weaves their way through a variety of pleasing songs, with the highlights definitely being the fabulous instrumental virtuosity and melodic intricacies, showcased best in the extended instrumental breaks in several songs, as well as in the two all-too-short instrumental tracks, World Spinning and Kaiser Razor. The vocal sections feature some fine melodies and harmonies, but the vocals themselves are just OK, and a bit too extensive, in that in some places the vocals seem to weigh down the songs a bit, and the songs come alive more in the instrumental sections. I would prefer the band to showcase more of the instrumental aspects and use the vocals more sparingly where they can better provide a boost to the songs (a lesson they could learn from Lars Froislie). Still, a solid, very good album, but just doesn't quite compare with the best of their earlier albums. Best Tracks: Considerations, World Spinning, Kaiser Razor, The Rubble, Love Is, Walls of Shame, We Claim the Moon. Rating: 3.5

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