I've seen them twice and can confirm this.I agree. I hear from my uncle they put on a killer show too.
Manilla Road trying thrash is embarrassing. I'd rather listen to Whitechapel the band than Whitechapel the Manilla Road song.
Why do you guys keep bringing up Abyss? Hah. I don't think anyone considers it a good album.
Someone else had just mentioned "the first 7" as if they were all of equivalent quality, and I think it has a decent M-A average and stuff. People like it, and they're wrong.
That someone was me and I didn't imply equivalency.
You said none of the 7 had duds. Point is, it's a respected album and valid to criticize, unlike, say, The Circus Maximus (which I prefer to Crystal Logic tbh).