It's been a long road for Flotsam & Jetsam, one of American metal's enduring forces. Having long since lost the stigma of being "Jason Newsted's old band", they have, over the course of two decades, reliably delivered albums of a consistent quality, always garnering fan and critical appreciation while never quite making the big time. Their blend of thrash and straightforward American metal has scarcely wavered, yet they haven't been afraid to tinker with the formula, unwilling to rehash the same album over and over. The last few years have been particularly rough, with vocalist Eric A.K. quitting after the release of My God, throwing the future of the band in serious doubt. The esteemed James Rivera (Helstar) filled in on some live shows, but it would be a few years before Eric and the boys were back together, resulting in the band's ninth album, Dreams Of Death, released in mid-2005.