This CD featured a serious shakeup from the lineup on their debut, “Peace Among the Ruins”. Only leader/founder Kurdt Vanderhoof and lead vocalist Scott Albright remain from the original lineup. Basically the same pieces are in place here, with the arrangements being more cohesive and less…. hard rock? The nods are all there: Styx, Kansas, Yes, Genesis, name your prog poison.
Unlike the first CD, tho, there is not a single “meh” number on this CD. My personal favorite track is “One Tragedy At a Time”. And coming in at just over 14 minutes long, it’s quite a jamfest, with a chorus that just won’t quit. “I’m Not Blind” is quite a rant, while “The Mind Machine” and “You’re Alive” are seriously proggish.
A whopping 4.5 stars.