SHADOW GALLERY was one of the first Metal bands that I got into back when I was first discovering Heavy Metal as a genre. For whatever reason, they never really became one of my favorite bands, although I found them enjoyable. I was shocked and saddened to learn that vocalist Mike Baker passed away in 2008 and was pleased to learn that the band planned to carry on with a new album in Baker's honor.

SHADOW GALLERY was formed all the way back in 1985 and their first album was released the same year as DREAM THEATER's Images and Words. They have continued to release albums, often with a lot of time between releases, especially considering that they have never played a live show. However, several members of the band have full-time jobs in music as audio engineers. They have recruited a singer named Brian Ashland to take over the vacated vocalist's position.

Thankfully, they did not just try to find a singer that sounded like Baker. Instead they found someone whose vocals suit the music admirably and is able to add another dimension to the music, much as Baker was able to do, albeit in a different way. The cheesiness and over-extended passages that sometimes plagued earlier albums is absent here. That leaves us with seven songs of A-level Progressive Metal. The songs actually sound like songs, not just random jams or bits and pieces of songs melded together to create 10+ minute epics.

The tracks are heavy without being over-the-top, yet catchy without being too syrupy. There are very few bands that are able to have their own distinctive sound without copying other bands. Even fewer bands can do it well as SHADOW GALLERY does here. Each member is obviously very talented, but they let their performances speak for themselves rather than thrusting the fact that they are so gifted in the listeners face with a bunch of unnecessary time-signature changes and other self-indulgent blunders.

There is not a weak song on here, although my personal favorites are With Honor and Venom. I couldn't think of a better way to pay tribute to Mike Baker than to write an album this strong in his memory. There is a very good chance that this will end up in my end-of-the-year Top 5 and regardless it is a 'must have'.