“Speaking in Tongues” begins with a heavy guitar that meanders into an almost weeping-like vocal over a steady bass line, which builds as the guitar work intensifies and the tempo increases. Eventually, the track goes into a pounding crescendo that has this entire tidal wave of music crashing into your senses– like the free-form jazz of Miles Davis on Bitches Brew.

The longest cut at six minutes and four seconds, “Mendoza’s Memory” starts with an Eastern-influenced melodic guitar riff that erupts into a powerful sax-dominated movement with intricate and enthralling guitar work. As is normal for Codex Serafini compositions, this song frequently changes in tempo and intensity– a disjointed march that evolves into a Gregorian chant. Towards the end of the piece, the song reverts to the Eastern-influenced riff from which it began.

The album ends with “Time, Change and Become”, which features first-rate vocals that are used as the primary instrument and intertwine with the rest of the music while emphasizing each note–so as not to be drowned out by the rest of the band. It’s impressive how the track switches back and forth from punchy rock stylings to ethereal psychedelic moments.

What is truly amazing is that this is a LIVE album. If I hadn’t been told, I’d never have known, which illustrates just how talented these musicians are, and how unique this work is.