The opening moments of "The Prisoner" spell out just what Mirrormaze is all about, what with the circumventing heavy riffs swaying through zesty keyboards and a plethora of carefully calculated algorithms swirling over an upbeat, driving glaze. In essence, Mirrormaze hones in on a sequence very similar to Fates Warning or Dream Theater, yet their textures address an edge of crispiness, perhaps a little carefree as well. They waste no time slamming down prog-inspired tornados heaving chunky guitar work and instrumentation ("Walkabout," "The Prisoner") and sometimes putting a mild brake on the progressive elements ("Earn Your Answers"). It's quite a varied album, including a multitude of dynamic blueprints that make each song shine in its own right; several bands often strike gold once or twice, but Mirrormaze never succumbs. Things really begin mixing on the title track, a monolithic demonstration of progressive metal mastery, and finally cumulating in the epic "Broken Soul," another monstrous slice of beauty.

Songs like "Vicious Circle" and Mirrormaze's homage to the Clown Prince of Crime throughout "Joke" up the pace and intensity a bit, but without dropping the dramatic and innate magic surrounding the album's efforts. D'Amore's vocals are so smooth and fitting that Ray Alder's addition to "Deeper Signs" finds itself equally tested in skill; a great tune regardless of the microphone's holder. Their voices work together in an iconic, surreal fashion of magnificence, and the music surrounding the duo is just as riveting; it's easily one of the finest songs throughout "Walkabout." I'm personally more attracted to tracks found swinging towards the metallic side of the pendulum such as "Joke" or the title track naturally; the lighter, atmospheric songs still look perfectly fine within Mirrormaze's exploration of progressive metal, a journey they mastered quite thoroughly.