Being a fan of George Lynch, John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, and other shredders I can tell you picking up this CD I was absolutely blown away. As many of the others have pointed out, from a technical standpoint Tony is top notch. He can shred pretty much anything from Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Neo Classical, and he really adds a touch of everything into his song writing. Now the music itself is beautiful. The songs are very dramatic, emotional, and intense. Usually, Neo Classical is very stale. Yngwie can really shred but, it really doesn't get past your ears and into your brain like Tony's music does. Now onto the CD itself.

1.) Autumn Lords - This is a very good song to kick of the CD. The Keyboard and Guitars really mesh well together and there is a lot of leggato and sweeping done in this song. This song though is pure Neo Classical and I usually skip this song unless I am in the mood for it.  3/5

2.) Hundreds of Thousands - WOW! This song is intense. The guitar has so much emotion to it. This song usually gives me goose bumps during the Chorus section. Very fast, lots of sweeping, but its a very clean song. Neo Classical? Maybe. This is just a spot on Instrumental masterpiece. 5/5

3.) Tears of Sahara - George Lynch and Tony MacAlpine all in one song. Enough said. This is probly one of the most emotional instrumentals I have ever heard. It really shreds but, its not the focus of this song. This melodic tear jerker really is just that, a song that grabs your heart and ears. I have played this song for many non "Metal" fans and they have fell in love with it. 5/5

4.) Key to the City - I can really see a story in this song. Everytime I hear it, it reminds me of a Knight in Shining Armor fighting for his King. Kind of corney but hey thats the way this song sounds. Great song. Very catchy. This song will stick in your brain for days! 5/5

5.) The Time and the Test - This song I feel is just a filler. Straight Neo Classical. I think the Keyboard in this song stands out more than the Guitars to me. Nice song, good filler, just doesn't match up the songs before and after it. 4/5

6.) The Kings Cup - Another Knight in Shining Armor Song. I always felt that this song should follow Key to the City. Great straight Neo Classical song. One of my favorite straight Neo Classicals on the CD. 5/5

7.) Sacred Wonder - One of the Greatest instrumentals ever written. Hands down I could and have listened to this song over and over and over and over. Such emotion, such power, and such beauty all rolled into one song. Again, not another shred fest, just a flat out intense song with a great hook and amazing Guitar playing. Melodic and very smooth. This is a beautiful song has a very similar feel to Tears of Sahara just not as sad sounding. 5/5

8.) Etude #4 Opus #10 - Tony shredding on the Piano. 5/5

9.) The Vision - Good Song. This song really changes the mood of the CD into a finale. Good rock song with Neo Classical hints. Nothing over the top but none-the-less a great song. 4/5

10.) Dreamstate - Beautiful song. Great follow up to The Vision in winding the CD down. This has a very Jazzy sound to it, and Tony plays an amazing solo in the begining of this song. 5/5

11.) Porcelain Doll - The Grand Finale of the CD. Slow song with a very heart wrenching feel to it. Amazing solo, and a great ending song that will make you want to listen to the entire CD all over again. 5/5

In general this is my favorite CD. I listen to it at least 3-4 times a week straight through.

5/5 and a must for any Guitar Hero, or Metal/Rock/Etc. fan.
Being a fan of George Lynch, John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, and other shredders I can tell you picking up this CD I was absolutely blown away. As many of the others have pointed out, from a technical standpoint Tony is top notch. He can shred pretty much anything from Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Neo Classical, and he really adds a touch of everything into his song writing. Now the music itself is beautiful. The songs are very dramatic, emotional, and intense. Usually, Neo Classical is very stale. Yngwie can really shred but, it really doesn't get past your ears and into your brain like Tony's music does. Now onto the CD itself. 1. ) Autumn Lords - This is a very good song to kick of the CD. The Keyboard and Guitars really mesh well together and there is a lot of leggato and sweeping done in this song. This song though is pure Neo Classical and I usually skip this song unless I am in the mood for it. 3/5

2. ) Hundreds of Thousands - WOW! This song is intense. The guitar has so much emotion to it. This song usually gives me goose bumps during the Chorus section. Very fast, lots of sweeping, but its a very clean song. Neo Classical? Maybe. This is just a spot on Instrumental masterpiece. 5/5

3. ) Tears of Sahara - George Lynch and Tony MacAlpine all in one song. Enough said. This is probly one of the most emotional instrumentals I have ever heard. It really shreds but, its not the focus of this song. This melodic tear jerker really is just that, a song that grabs your heart and ears. I have played this song for many non "Metal" fans and they have fell in love with it. 5/5

4. ) Key to the City - I can really see a story in this song. Everytime I hear it, it reminds me of a Knight in Shining Armor fighting for his King. Kind of corney but hey thats the way this song sounds. Great song. Very catchy. This song will stick in your brain for days! 5/5

5. ) The Time and the Test - This song I feel is just a filler. Straight Neo Classical. I think the Keyboard in this song stands out more than the Guitars to me. Nice song, good filler, just doesn't match up the songs before and after it. 4/5

6. ) The Kings Cup - Another Knight in Shining Armor Song. I always felt that this song should follow Key to the City. Great straight Neo Classical song. One of my favorite straight Neo Classicals on the CD. 5/5

7. ) Sacred Wonder - One of the Greatest instrumentals ever written. Hands down I could and have listened to this song over and over and over and over. Such emotion, such power, and such beauty all rolled into one song. Again, not another shred fest, just a flat out intense song with a great hook and amazing Guitar playing. Melodic and very smooth. This is a beautiful song has a very similar feel to Tears of Sahara just not as sad sounding. 5/5

8. ) Etude #4 Opus #10 - Tony shredding on the Piano. 5/5

9. ) The Vision - Good Song. This song really changes the mood of the CD into a finale. Good rock song with Neo Classical hints. Nothing over the top but none-the-less a great song. 4/5

10. ) Dreamstate - Beautiful song. Great follow up to The Vision in winding the CD down. This has a very Jazzy sound to it, and Tony plays an amazing solo in the begining of this song. 5/5

11. ) Porcelain Doll - The Grand Finale of the CD. Slow song with a very heart wrenching feel to it. Amazing solo, and a great ending song that will make you want to listen to the entire CD all over again. 5/5

In general this is my favorite CD. I listen to it at least 3-4 times a week straight through. 5/5 and a must for any Guitar Hero, or Metal/Rock/Etc. fan.