That downset album was their best, and a brilliant album in that rap metal genre, one of the only bands that could ever really keep up with RATM in terms of style, bit sad really that they were never able to achieve similar success IMO, but for each successful GOOD group of a genre, there needs to be 100 shit groups who ruin a good thing and end up alot more successful.
As for the Blaze Bayley album, I really prefer the newer one than the rest because it has more passion and aggression, and is really well paced (READ: fast) akin to my tastes in most things metal, again, best thing IMO he has ever been involved in