When you listen to "Distorted Vision," you get exactly what the title implies. It is a journey through raw emotion with absolutely none of the sugar-coating that comes on the watered down radio mixes of today's pop hits. "United" crafts the most powerful and beautiful lyrics not only of any hard rock group, but of any CD released in recent memory. Coupled with apt song titles and haunting guitar work, this CD is a definite positive addition to any collection

The CD begins with "Flash Back." This could easily be the anthem of any teenager with its depressingly accurate lyrics "Trapped in my head, Memories of pain, Images of suffering, Why do they come to me now?" Passages like these can't help but speak to the listener, dredging up powerful and mixed emotions. Accompanied with the comparatively subtle and refined guitar work the song has an unmistakable appeal to even the most timid of listeners.

The other truly memorable track on this disc is the eighth track, "Tiger." Again, the lyrics are too powerful to ignore in this track. The idea that "We can feed the power, we're never satisfied" is one of those passages that has the rare quality of successful music that speaks to the general population. That verse seems to sum up the ideology of the group on this album as well. Through the clean guitar work coupled with screaming vocals, the message of hunger as well as teenage angst is clearly demonstrated.

The only drawbacks to this CD are that the screaming style of the lead vocals may turn off many listeners, along with some offensive language. The vocals are probably the only factor that will impede the mainstream success of this album which otherwise is one of the best I've listened to. For all fans of hard rock, this is a must-have in any collection.