CATCH WITHOUT ARMS

The first Dredg album I got my hands on was "The Pariah, the Parrot and the Delusion" and after listening to it about 3 times, I came to appreciate how wonderful that album is. Next I got "El Cielo" and once again after a few listens, I fell in love with that one too. So.....the one in the middle should be just as good right? Well, I'll say that it's not terrible, but it isn't as great as either of the albums before or after it. Pretty much what most of the reviewers have been saying about it on this site is close to how I feel about it too. Good music, still on the hard side of progressive rock, but not as hard, not as loud and not as progressive. The songs are somewhat too similar, but as I grow accustomed to the album, I expect I'll start to hear the differences. I guess this must have been an attempt for the band to find an audience, but thank goodness that the next album was just as good as the one prior to this. So, a band is experimenting with it's sound, there is nothing wrong with that, but unfortunately you get some things that work well and others that don't work so well. I can't discount dredg by saying that they aren't good, because I have heard how great they are. But I wouldn't recommend basing your opinion of them on this album alone. Yes there are highlights here, but they are fewer and farther in between than they are on the other two albums I've mentioned. I think you know how this one is going to be rated right? Middle of the road or Good but non-essential pretty much sums it up. 3 stars (you can add a half a star to that if you want for good quality and a few "highs"). Start with the album before or after this one first. You'll be glad you did!