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Honestly, so close to a damn masterpiece, this album contains such a tiny flaw that doesn't make me consider this to be an absolutely essential album.

The lineup on the album is still the same from 'One Hour by the Concrete Lake'. I can't even begin to type the instruments that each individual plays, but I can still refresh everyone on the members. Daniel Gildenlow, Kristoffer Gildenlow, Fredrik Hermansson, Johan Hallgren and Johan Langell. The album also features the 'Orchestra of Eternity' that features 2 violins, a viola, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet and tuba. Daniel was in near complete control of this album as far as orchestral arrangements, music and lyrics, with the exception of the music and orchestral arrangements in 'Iter Impius' by Fredrik Hermansson and orchestral arrangements in 'Imago', partial credit to Jan Levander.

This is about as great as a concept can get lyrically wise. They play such an important role that they pretty much drive the music in this album. Daniel states on the DVD for this album that he didn't want the orchestra to be thrown in the background, specifically, on some of Metallica's work. The orchestra is to be taken just as serious as a role in the album as any of the official band members themselves. The music in the album is extremely hard to describe that an attempt to do such might even make the reader more confused. It's the least heavy of the PoS albums and the instruments are extremely laid back, however, the vocals play a huge role in this album because Daniel singing represents several different characters. My only problem is that the album got a little boring in a very scarce few places. The chant in 'Lilium Cruentus' and the two tracks before the infamous 'Iter Impius'. Although everything in this album was put in for a reason, I am judging this on a listening experience, which these few things fail to deliver on. Other then that, this album is damn perfect.

I would highly recommend this so someone that appreciates effort and thoughtful concept. I myself like music with strings thrown in. This album has more then enough of that as well. The only thing that confused me was, why is pretentious a bad thing?

This is probably the most pretentious album in music since 'Tales from Topographic Oceans'. Very nice.

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