First off what has to be said here is main songwriter and composer Simone Mularoni is an absolute monster guitarist! Known primarily for his main band DGM (a progressive metal band in vein of Symphony X) and Empyrios (a more extreme melodic thrash band in vein of Nevermore) this guy’s talent is unquestionably immense! This album was supposedly formed to give former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate a chance to once again sing over some driving metal/hard rock songs in vein of classic Queensryche and prove that his voice can still carry these kind of tunes. Which leads us to our first question here…….wasn’t that what his former band was trying to do yet Geoff refused to allow Queensryche to play in this style anymore? And since he wouldn’t sing these kind of songs for Queensryche anymore then why did he agree to do it here for the first time in 20 plus years? More on that later………..As for the album what we have on display here are some first rate hard rock/metal tunes akin to classic Queensryche glory days! Perhaps more modern in scope and very structured hook based tracks which bring to mind ‘Walk in the Shadows’ as opposed to the more progressive leanings of the ‘Warning’ style. Some really huge choruses are featured here on songs like ‘True Colors’, ‘Recess From My Fate’ and especially ‘My Last Story’! Wow what a monster chorus this is! Not only the hooks on this album shine but Simone is laying down some absolutely Killer riffs too! Check out the opening riff in ‘True Colors’!!! This riff about knocked me on my ass when I first heard it (still does) and is one of the finest riffs I have heard in a long while! Fantastic stuff and let’s not forget the memorable solo’s this guy is laying down all over this album! Besides the fore mentioned songs, this album is pretty consistent throughout and also features a first class production job also courtesy of Simone. Very heavy, yet crisp and clear!As for Geoff’s performance here I have to admit he sounds very good! He may not quite have the power and range of his heyday however his voice still sounds good and he uses different arrays of texture and in fluctuation in his voice to color the songs and carry the melodies well!As for why he agreed to sing on this album I am not really sure? It may have been out of spite towards his former bandmates, or it could have been just for the money offered? Whatever the reason I don’t think Geoff really likes this style of music anymore. Even though it wipes the floor off any album he has performed on since ‘Empire’ I don’t think it matters to him? In fact he seems to be keeping his distance from this album as I have not heard him mention it in any interviews or promote it in anyway? Almost as if he is ashamed of singing on a real metal album again and also knows he didn’t have any part in the actual writing of the songs. Which let’s face it, probably the reason this album is so good! Geoff wasn’t given the chance to re-arrange Simone’s metal songs into the pop/techno/dance tracks he forced his former bands songs into.On the positive side anyone who clamored to hear Geoff sing over some really great hard rock/metal style songs again, you have got your wish! And he proves he is still capable of doing it very well! I however would have been just as happy if not more had Simone hired another good vocalist to front this and make it more of a permanent actual band! This album is so good that I would like to hear more from them in the future! It actually stacks up pretty well to the new Queensryche album ‘The Verdict’ which is probably my favorite album of the year so far!Nice job Simone! Very well done and I hope you carry on and turn this project into a real band! Also a new Empyrios album would be nice too .