The Blessed Curse lacks the immediate nature of Crystal Logic and catchy tunes in the form of "Necropolis" or "Divine Victim", but those who persevere will find redeeming qualities and tracks that will stand the test of time. In particular, the Middle Eastern sound of "Tomes of Clay" and the potential classic "The Muses Kiss" are two such works. As a whole, Manilla Road's 17th release is probably the most upbeat LP since Mysterium, and for the band's standards, one of their better-produced efforts. It doesn't have the thrashy elements of The Deluge and features a variety of acoustic passages. Even though the songwriting is once again solid, what really stands out is Shelton"s guitar playing. In addition, its running time, clocking at more than 90 minutes, will be deemed as overwhelming by some and doesn't make checking the album out in one listen easy.
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