Poetry for the Poisoned

On their ninth studio album, once again bring their epic sound to bear on unsuspecting ears with . Like their other albums, is a kind of sweeping prog metal symphony, taking heavy metal into the majestic and wide-open spaces of classical music. While haven't done much to innovate on their sound, they certainly haven't lost a step, delivering track after track of densely arranged power metal packed to the brim with swirling keyboards and driving guitar work. What really makes the band stand out, though, is singer . With 's background in opera, his voice is a powerful presence in the songs that's able to stand out without overshadowing the rest of the music. Given their style of music, there's a fine line between getting lost in the composition and overpowering everything else, and it's a line that and walk well. Really, balance is what are all about, adding just enough symphonic and progressive elements to make the songs interesting without turning them into academic exercises and enough power metal to ensure that the songs are heavy without letting them get too cheesy. With all of these things working in harmony, makes for a welcome addition to the discography. ~ Gregory Heaney