DIFFERENT STRINGS continues to have internationally positive reviews which can be viewed on their website. These were from the most popular Prog magazine, classic rock's PROG. First, as a freebie for their first ever Prog awards and on the following months edition of Prog featured a review of the band. Their fourth album, "The Sands of Time," was released on March 31, 2021, and features the voice of Andrea Casali from ICEFISH.

The album contains twelve tracks. "Out of Time" is the album's first track. The gentle sway of acoustic guitars and soft, emotive vocals open the song. Trumpet notes come in, furthering the melancholy feeling of the song. "The Hourglass Overture" is an instrumental. Some grand notes are hit in the opening passage, then the main riff drops. Besides the old-school keys, I definitely get some RUSH vibes here. It takes a bit of a darker turn after the half-way mark, but finishes on a positive note.

"Poverty and Agony" opens with piano and soft strings. The vocals are quite stirring. Andrea has complete control in every range. It segues into the short "Broken Childhood," where the sound continues. They are definitely telling a tale of woe here, but also a tale of resolve. The saxophone notes are solemn as well. "Freedom (Living Hell)" begins with the slow thud of bass guitar and piano notes. Cymbals swell and retreat. The main riff here is both distorted and gloomy. "Freedom conquers, freedom living hell" he croons. The title track is over seven minutes in length. It begins with clean guitars and harmonized vocals. Just before the half-way mark, the sound drops to electronic pulses, then picks back up with a murkier riff and a spacey keyboard solo. Moving towards completion, the harmonized vocals put a hopeless stamp on the song.

"Ten Dollar Love" opens with a heavier guitar riff with bass in support. Female vocals are sung here...they are just a bit odd and unconventional for me. It picks up at the half-way mark, with faster and darker tones, complete with a key solo, followed by a guitar solo. "Glimpse of Consciousness" is a brief, one-minute interlude of piano, strings and male vocals. It's almost over before it starts. "The Plan" is an eight-minute opus, beginning with the steady pulse of electronica, followed by bass guitar notes carrying the melody. Acoustic guitars and drums roll in slowly. A gentle rhythm develops from there. Bass guitar carries the melody around the half-way mark, and it finishes with some big accents.

"Castles in the Sand" ends the album on a positive note, because the next two tracks are reprisals. It has an easy, gentle rhythm and some poignant singing. "Will I hold on till the rest of my days" he says towards the end. The two reprisals are a nice way to wrap up the tale. They bring a sense of closure to the album, with the final song just over a minute in length.

Overall, this album was good, but could have been better. Some more sonority might help thicken out the sound here, which was the main problem on the album. Many of the tracks were just too thin. The gloom and doom of the album also wore tiring after a while...some more positivity every now and again might have helped. The duo here is quite talented...there is no denying that. But the album just didn't quite push me in the way I hoped it would.