: Offers high-resolution 24-bit downloads, with the Deluxe Edition starting at approximately $10.49 on Qobuz .

Released on May 27, 2013, Altered State by the British band is widely regarded as a definitive masterpiece of modern progressive metal. It is notably the only album to feature vocalist Ashe O'Hara, whose purely clean, high-register performance marked a significant departure from the band's previous use of harsh vocals. Thematic Structure and Movement

For a detail-oriented album like Altered State , the difference is audible. The cymbal decay on "Concealing Fate, Pt. 2" (if you have the edition that includes the Perspective EP) is smeared on streaming. On a FLAC download, it sparkles.