Although there are ten tracks listed, one's an intro, so you're left with nine songs at 44 minutes total - vinyl length. One's a pretty cool, non-cliched ballad, one a power metalized semi-ballad, and then what's left is a seven song metal suite that has a bit of a simple, straight-eight post-NWOBHM vibe, the calm of a few slow structures pierced way out the other side with balls-out metal ravers 'Power Of The Sun' and opening explosion 'Abduction'. But yes, the overall personality of this thing is a bit pensive and subdued, old school like the general blueprint and time-stamp. I hear Samson, Maiden, heavy modern Priest, Balls To Picasso and Skunkworks, lots of Accident Of Birth... a grab-bag of mature, tasteful metal styles. Heck, there's even a Tattooed-styled hard rocker in 'Devil On A Hog', which turns out to be one of the album's best tracks, given a warm hard rock chorus that offers a light foil to an album full of epic sentiments. Lacking is a sense of mission, or large force of personality - the album is too clean and efficient, Bruce's voice being its biggest raison d'etre, and pretty good reason to buy this indeed. Power metal guys are often compared to Dickinson, but he really is less approximated in tonal quality and inflection and choice than those other two tremors Halford and Tate. But sure, there's something modest and non-eventful about this album. Some fiery licks, above-par drumming, a voice with soul and history... the firepower is there, but it's all a little safe. Effortlessly coasting past every Maiden album since Powerslave (simultaneously blowing a kiss and flashing a hairy moon), just isn't enough given the majesty of Chemical Wedding, forever Dickinson' glorious burden.