Album Rating: 4.5
I love Progenitor and Embers but this is the best Mechina?? I mean seriously, now there is a song with TWO SOLOS?? Namely, Wings of Vecterra, and they are amazing, not just for the sake of having them. Of course you should drop first two tracks, The World We Saved was never good in the first place, Blessings is a great standalone single but no way in hell it should start the album.
After that, the fireworks kick in. Joe finally got rid of those faceless clean duets and let Mel have her own spotlight. Adding Dave Lowmiller as a counterpart, and he is an amazing singer. Which is especially the case in single version of When Honor Meant Something, absolutely insane track with those synth melodies, among the best they ever did. Stellar performance by Anna Hel in The Plague Pit, again.
Unlike many previous albums, this features the strongest material in the second half and goes out with a bang with Collapse Promised to All and Overwhelming Harmony of Collective Suffering. Also their best production, crisp, clear, balanced and full of energy. And the drums sound better than on latest Wintersun...
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