But the album’s crown jewel is “The Line in My Hand,” a symphonic retelling of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Greg Herzenach’s nylon-string guitar work—humorously described by Dean as the kidnapping of Yes’ guitarist Steve Howe—steals the show, his solos weaving fiery technique with heartbreaking grace. The band’s decision to let every note of Herzenach’s performance ring out, fading the rest of the mix behind him, no matter the song’s length, pays off in goosebumps and is a stroke of genius. Vallecillo’s lyrics capture Santiago’s desperate dance with the marlin: “No one knows, how I feel tonight / With the stars in the sky out of sight of the land/ marlin and man/ in the arms of El Mar made as one by the line in my hand". It’s a track that feels like it could stretch across the ocean itself. The song’s symphonic build and Renaissance-like elegance make this the album’s emotional and musical standout.