IMAGES AND WORDS

To think that this is a masterpiece of prog is ridiculous. Sure, they can all play; in the guitarist's case, fast and flashily. But, although they deserve credit for that, that's not enough. The compositions are complex and often do not link into a credible whole; they seem to be a sequence of passages designed to show off the instrumental prowess of the band. Sure they're prog, but metal? No way - just a very good bunch of musicians playing complex but not very well composed hardish prog which ends up rather average.