Think I've about peaked with this album so I'll say that after also relistening to Apocalyptic, particularly "New Rise", "King of Madness" and "Eye of the Storm", I noticed how a good chunk of this album seems to follow more in line with those songs' more melodious sensibilities than the stomping anthemic/speed metal of Metal Commando and the rest of Apocalyptic. Granted, there's still that razor-sharp riffing too and some of the songs are still very much that, but it does sound like they put more into it than expected. It made it a more invigorating album to listen to on the whole.

I was wrong to say there was no "One Night in December"-esque song but "Their Gods Have Failed" is definitely one of the weaker epics that they've done across the past 11 years, only beating out Apocalyptic's epic since it is at least a better version of "Eye of the Storm". Frankly, it's telling that I thought "Cancel Culture" was the epic because it's got more of what made those songs work so well.

This has been a mainstay for me in the car the past week. It's right at the sweet spot where it's direct and aggro but not too dumb or silly. The riffs are good and the vocal lines are clever and catchy - just a solid 80% or so.

"Another Hero" is a great opener and the short punchy tunes like "Play a Song," "This World Is On Fire," "Steelmelter" etc just hit a spot. Good stuff. The ballad isn't great and "Their Gods Have Failed" could maybe be stronger, but whatever.

Having given a listen now, I think this is probably one of their better efforts in recent years, lyrics aside. Barring a couple of tracks already mentioned, the rest of the album is pretty solid.

I have yet to hear more than the first two singles (which didn't floor me, to be honest) but have recently been binging on "Metal Commando", "Apocalypse" and "Delivering the Black" A LOT. In fact, it's the first time since I guess Unleash the Archers that a band has really found that energizing sweet spot that really grabs me and digs deep, so I'll surely check out this new one despite slightly lower expectations.

Delivering the Black seems to have come back on streaming services, its absence may be a number-of-albums new-contract issue. anyway it's their best album imo so very pleased about that