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Cast's musicianship is beyond competent- it has to be to keep up with so many demanding passages that come back-to-back and rarely let up. A number of these compositions are harried displays of technique, which, though impressive, should ideally come in bursts. The vocals have that slippery Neo-Prog texture that appeal to some but not others. Overall, this is a fine symphonic album, one that could have been stronger with some pruning that would have enabled the brightest moments to shine a little more.

"Duction from the Intro" Wasting no time, Cast plaits a medley of jarring instrumental passages together, pairing strident lead guitar with various wind instruments, walking a tightrope between symphonic and heavy jazz,

"A Night of Candles" / "Our Many Hands" Where that introductory piece was a commendable exercise in controlled chaos, this one comes from all directions, with the drummer in particular sounding unsure of what should happen when; in places it's all far too busy.

"Handing a Challenge" An abrupt change of pace, this piece is a peppy blend of jaunty symphonic music and tacky jazz. The dramatic vocals ring out over swirling keyboard and crunchy guitar riffing.

"Equal Strokes" The hectic pace is hard to follow, again with the snare receiving a lot of attention. The bass pops nicely from time to time, and the keyboardist offers both a fast synthesizer solo and a whirling organ workout, the latter of which is marred by overwhelming, ghostly vocalizations.

"Between the Face and the Mask / Reprise" The opus moves right into another busy movement, with the guitarist and the flautist sharing the spotlight in between the keyboardist's thematic recitations. This instrumental feast demonstrates a high level of sophistication. The vocal section of the song does not appeal to me, again because of the barrage of activity all crammed together, which continues on during a squealing, shredding guitar solo.

"Return to Same" In stark contrast to all that has come before, "Return to Same" begins with confident piano, darker vocals, and woodwind accompaniment. In some ways, it reminds me of one of the many "filler" tracks on an album from The Flower Kings, but at times it sounds like something from Ritual's "The Hemulic Voluntary Band," which appeals to me.

"Ojales" Following the respite of "Return to Same," Cast returns to the heavy commotion of before. Electric guitar and saxophone take turns, with the latter exploring more exotic phrases.

"Selajo" Another restless instrumental, this one is less memorable than many of the other works found on the album, but it does contain some satisfying keyboard passages.

"Intrada" After an explosive beginning, the listener is treated to light flute, piano, and energetic guitar and synthesizer. As a whole, the grand atmosphere of the piece is like that found on a Proto-Kaw album.

"Less Complicated / The Rescue" Immediate vocals, low and sinister, pulse over softer music before that music transforms into what could be rousing battle music for progressive rock fans. The keyboard passages are reminiscent of classic Genesis, while the uplifting vocal section brings IQ to mind.

"More Complicated" Another heavy instrumental, this time chock full of staccato and demanding snare work, "More Complicated" consists of several rapid-fire sections that, after the excess of the previous tracks, feels like overkill.

"In Front of My Eyes" One more peaceful section introduces the vocalist again. The heartening melodic themes of this piece serve as a highlight of the album, although further instrumental gymnastics occur.

"Pyrolamb" The final track is a semi-metal addendum that comes across as unnecessary and unnecessarily flashy.