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✦✦✦✧ This is the frontrunner for the best progressive metal album of 2022. It is an order of magnitude better than their previous album (which, as an Arsies contestant, was clearly no slouch). Seriously, it’s better in just about every way I can imagine. It shreds, but when it doesn’t shred, it emotes. Also, putting guest vocalist Einar fucking Solberg in the intro and first full song is such a baller move that I feel like everyone should just beg him to do it on their albums from now on. The only complaint I can make is about the pacing: it’s a long album, and demands a patient ear to take it all in. But you owe it to yourself to do it.

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