As with all things Rush, they don't do things by halves.
This album is a semi-conceptual album where each song almost flows to the next. Things kick off with the bombastic song - Caravan which is a groovy rocker and things don't let up until track 6 - Halo Effect where the pace is slowed down for a 4 minute breather. Then back into the rockers again until track 12- The Garden - possibly one of the best songs Rush have produced.
On my first listen only Caravan and BU2B seemed to sink in, as I'd heard these songs over the last 2 years. The rest of the album took a few more repeated listens to open up. It is definitely a grower and deserves repeated listens.
The synthesizers from the 80's are missing, so don't expect a return to that, but there are the odd use of strings and piano throughout. The production is a lot cleaner than Vapor Trails or Snakes and Arrows, thanks to Foo Fighters producer Nick Raskulinecz who co-produced with Rush, who seems to have altered the production techniques from Snakes and Arrows.
If you like modern rock music, you will definitely like this album, it's a different listen to the usual output mainstream rock bands release.