RSD Essential 20th Anniversary lavender vinyl

The album is the second installment of a tetralogy about the ongoing saga of the Keywork in The Amory Wars. The Amory Wars is also the name of the graphic novel series written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez that details the events foretold in greater detail. There are three notable singles on this album: "A Favor House Atlantic", "Blood Red Summer" and "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3".

The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 500,000 copies and is RIAA certified Gold. Entertainment Weekly described it as being one of the top five key albums in the new prog genre.