TBOS has definitely fallen a lot for me.
Empire just doesn't have enough in it to be interesting 18 minutes after 6 years. There's a moment here and there and the buildup is nice. I mean they made an arrangement out of 1st year of piano school type of motif. It's good, it isn't timeless or memorable. The best thing about it that it isn't a failure, considering 18 minute Iron Maiden with lead piano.
I always disliked Red and the Black and the eponymous epic is great until about the losferwords part, then it just goes into Maiden by the numbers, which is not something I'm dying to hear after all these years.
The short tracks this album intentionally pushed for, came out as nothing special. Shorter tracks may be hit / miss affair for reunion Maiden but these ones are sitting right at dead center. Serviceable, nothing more or less. Nice refreshing approach with Tears but again nothing one could be too crazy about.