by Steve Huey

The second Liquid Tension Experiment album doesn't contain anything quite as self-indulgent as its predecessor's chops-heavy half-hour jam session "Three Minute Warning"; the epic piece here, the 17-minute "When the Water Breaks," is much more composed and therefore focused (even if it's not what you'd call a tight listen). Elsewhere, the music blends Dream Theater-esque progressive metal (logically) and spontaneous interaction with mellower, more lushly textured pieces; the high level of musicianship is, of course, beyond question.