The comeback nobody dared dream of: after years of vocal troubles for Rody Walker, Within lands an 87/100 across three reviews — one of the best prog aggregates of the year. Distorted Sound pulls a 9/10 and calls it « yet another masterstroke by one of progressive metal’s key flagbearers »; Angry Metal Guy follows at 4.5/5, Kerrang! closes at 4/5.
What unites everyone fits in one name: Walker. Distorted Sound hails an « astounding recovery », a singer sounding « better than ever » who sweeps across every register; AMG praises « controlled chaos », the album « slathered with winding, propulsive vocal runs ». « The Mariner », seven minutes winking at the band’s past, and « The Orchard » featuring Jadea Kelly, stand out.
The one shared reservation? Brevity — and even that, Distorted Sound flips into a virtue: a compact runtime built for repeat listens. Kerrang! sums up the mood: « their ceaseless excellence and thoroughly fascinating songwriting makes for… a release that will be referred to for years ». The public follows at 77/100. Verdict, no suspense: 8.5.