4x****
Like an unholy pairing between the vocals and chugging intensity of Testament and ringing chord structures of Rush, the Outer Limits holds interest despite some missteps. "Fix My Heart"****, though has none, and barrels like a locomotive. "Le Pont Noir"**** also shows the Testament influence with creepy verses alternating with the spidery dual leads in the pounding chorus. The cover of Pink Floyd's "Nile Song"**** rocks fairly predictably, but was clearly fun. "Jack Luminous"****, the 17-minute centerpiece, tosses out riff after progressive riff, and somehow manages to never bore. Sometimes the combination of metal and progressive isn't as smooth with awkward results, such as the odd spacey bridge of "Moonbeam Rider", or the jarring changes in the limp bridge of "The Lost Machine", which thunders convincingly otherwise. "Time Warp" fully embraces the prog with a handful of parts meant to form a song structure that starts with the catchy but obvious chorus, and quickly falls apart. "Wrong Way Store" also suffers from a hokey chorus that distracts from a cool riff. The closing "We Are Not Alone" is polished but mediocre thrash.
Like an unholy pairing between the vocals and chugging intensity of Testament and ringing chord structures of Rush, the Outer Limits holds interest despite some missteps. "Fix My Heart"****, though has none, and barrels like a locomotive. "Le Pont Noir"**** also shows the Testament influence with creepy verses alternating with the spidery dual leads in the pounding chorus. The cover of Pink Floyd's "Nile Song"**** rocks fairly predictably, but was clearly fun. "Jack Luminous"****, the 17-minute centerpiece, tosses out riff after progressive riff, and somehow manages to never bore. Sometimes the combination of metal and progressive isn't as smooth with awkward results, such as the odd spacey bridge of "Moonbeam Rider", or the jarring changes in the limp bridge of "The Lost Machine", which thunders convincingly otherwise. "Time Warp" fully embraces the prog with a handful of parts meant to form a song structure that starts with the catchy but obvious chorus, and quickly falls apart. "Wrong Way Store" also suffers from a hokey chorus that distracts from a cool riff. The closing "We Are Not Alone" is polished but mediocre thrash.
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