IMAGES AND WORDS

First of all, this is not a progressive ROCK album. This is a progressive METAL album. So for those who cannot stand fast riff, thundering pedals and screaming vocals etc, please stay away from this album and save everyone the confusion of having to read a flawed review. Having said that, this album is still progressive, only difference is that it is a metal album. If you have an open mind, an important criteria to appreciate progressive music, be it rock or metal, you can identify with this album. Like it or not, this album has been the yardstick for so many progressive metal band during the 90s, which many had failed miserably to stick up to. High level skills involved coupled with really tight playing, this album can not get any better. Awake is my favourite album due to its diversity, but this album to me is still THE album that had major influence on a lot of people. Every single song has intricate lines which is still melodically beautiful. The Miracle And The Sleeper is a very unique song. There isn't any part that is repeated in this song. No chorus, bridge or chorus. I still consider this song as the best song that they have ever composed. Learning To Live has haunting lines somewhere around the 7:00 min mark. Take The Time is funky yet full of intricate lines. Under Glass Moon may be a little straight forward as a whole but listen to the riff on the verse. If you cannot accept this album, seriously, you might have difficulty of accepting other forms of concepts which will devoid you of listening to a wider scope of genre.