6/10

As far as audacious musical projects go, the latest studio album from Titus Andronicus sits up there as one of the most intriguing in modern memory. With its sprawling 98-minute running time, 'The Most Lamentable Tragedy' is an musical journey with its own feature-length narrative. Taking on the harsh subject of frontman Patrick Stickles' own demons including his battle with manic depression.

But despite the huge expectation it sets for itself, there are really two ways you can listen to this album. You can follow the subject matter at hand as it was originally intended or you can simply sit back and enjoy the hour and a half of powerful rock records this album comes packed with. And while the latter is the easiest, and probably the most enjoyable way to listen, getting right into this record is an exhaustive undertaking that probably crosses the line of self-indulgence one too many times.

While it undoubtably has its merits and highlights throughout, you do feel a struggle at keeping up with how the album was originally meant to be listened. Its overbearing content does begin to smother the record's flow quite considerably and makes for an extremely challenging listen.